Devotion: Human // Kind
Human // Kind
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:35-36
Over the years I have learned to be very picky about those who I choose to be on our Sheridan church staff. Why? The primary reason is that I have learned the power of social contagion. Namely, behavior – both good and bad – is contagious.
If you are like most people, you have worked in a place where one bad personality has had a detrimental effect on the entire atmosphere of a workplace. I’ve certainly experienced this! Usually the day after a toxic person leaves, it feels as if a window has been opened and fresh air has entered. There is a renewed spirit of lightness amidst the team.
The contagiousness of attitudes has been widely studied, and the scientific research can help us better understand what we already know from experience. We will continue to talk more about this as we delve deeper into our new worship series called Human // Kind.
Suffice it to say, God expects kindness from us. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus reveals kindness to be part of the very nature of God. This should be a wake up call for us. If God is kind and expects kindness from us, what are we channeling? How contagious are we?
COVID-19 has taught us to pay attention to what we are spreading. Are you spreading kindness? I pray it be so.
Gracious God, we often long to feel you near. Help us to understand that by acting with kindness – acting in sync with your very nature – that we can sense your presence. Make us kind as you are kind. Amen.
Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier
Pastor Greg heard God’s call to Sheridan in 1999 and that began a journey which has become his life’s work. Having played a variety of roles as pastor of Sheridan, Pastor Greg was called as the Senior Pastor in 2011. He leads the staff and his primary focus is on the creation of culture, the overall direction of worship and partnering with our amazing team. Pastor Greg has been married to Rose for more than 30 years and together they have two servant-hearted grown children.