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God is not asking us to be able (personal power, skill, means or opportunity).
He’s asking us to be faithful (remain steadfast through faith in what’s true and factual). What does kindness look like when drawn from ability vs faith? KINDNESS (noun) • the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is a type of behavior marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistance or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return. There are three traits of selfless personalities you’ll find in people who operate in kindness: Empathy/sympathy: Sympathy involves feelings of compassion, sorrow, sadness, or pity for another person or other people who are facing difficult circumstances. It is an emotion experienced in reaction to something that happens to other people. When you feel sorry for someone, you have sympathy for that person. Empathy is stronger than sympathy. It goes beyond feeling compassion for their loss. It is the ability to put yourself in the place of another and understand someone else's feelings by identifying with them. With empathy, you put yourself in another's shoes and view the situation through their eyes to get a real sense of what their experience is like. Moral reasoning: Moral reasoning is the study of how people think about right and wrong and how they acquire and apply moral rules. Social responsibility: Social responsibility is an ethical framework in which an individual is obligated to work and cooperate with other individuals and organizations for the benefit of the community that will inherit the world that individual leaves behind. Kindness is a main theme of the Bible. Christians learn through Jesus how to be empathetic and sympathetic (God WITH us, Advent/Sympathy, God IN us, Pentecost/Empathy) and learn how to care for others socially in allowing the Holy Spirit to convict and move. They use the Bible as the moral standard in reasoning. Kindness is selfless, compassionate, and merciful and poses as one of the greatest powers revealed in practice toward our enemies and amongst the least of these. READ: THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10:29–37 Reflection: Samaritans were the despised enemies of the Jews. The parable offers ... a vision of life rather than death. It evokes 2 Chronicles 28, which recounts how the prophet Oded convinced the Samaritans to aid their Judean captives. It insists that enemies can prove to be neighbors, that compassion has no boundaries, and that judging people on the basis of their religion or ethnicity will leave us dying in a ditch. Effectively, the parable turns social reality on its head. Those expected to act righteously and model behavior for others to imitate failed where the Samaritan succeeded. The parable challenged social norms and prejudice based simply on ethnic origin, religious affiliation and where people made their home. Olivia Forton of Geneva College writes, “Kindness is a lifestyle. It is a daily practice. It is a choice...If kindness needs faithful practice every day, kindness also requires intentionality. Now, I’m not saying that we should never do random acts of kindness. Oftentimes, kind acts are on-the-spot, in the moment, and unplanned. However, we must be intentional. Either plan specific acts of kindness, or plan for the random; be ready to do good on-the-spot. Kindness is not when we feel like it or a random act here or there when we happen to think of it. Kindness requires seeking out, looking for the needs of others.” If you’re worried about burning out from kindness, according to science, kindness actually prevents that burn out in creating a better world around you. Let’s take a look! VIDEO: The Science of Kindness (2 MIN) "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.." ESV Colossians 3:12-14 Response:
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God is not asking us to be able (personal power, skill, means or opportunity). He’s asking us to be faithful (remain steadfast through faith in what’s true and factual). PURPOSE (noun):
Every person is born with purpose. Defining purpose based on ability until failure or disappointment. If we based our purpose on ability, how is your sense of resolve or determination when you’re sick? When you score poorly on a test? When you’re misunderstood by a friend? When you fail to meet expectations in a game? Can we fix ourselves by believing “we’re enough” to fulfill what we believe our purpose is? We are not enough. If we were, we wouldn't need Jesus. “The self can’t be both the problem and the solution. If our problem is that we’re insecure or unfulfilled, we’re not going to be able to find the antidote to these things in the same place our insecurities and fear are coming from.” — Allie Beth Stuckey, You’re Not Enough and That’s Okay Defining purpose based on faith through failure or disappointment. “I am a child of God. (Romans 8:16)” = No matter what happens to my body or my circumstances, I am God’s and can commune with and glorify Him in whatever situation He puts me in. “Whether we win or lose, find happiness or suffering in this life, crush our career goals or wind up homeless, we can achieve the purpose for which we were created:
— Alisa Childers, Live Your Truth: and Other Lies Every person is born with purpose … knowing who you are whether you find yourself in a palace or a prison. Jeremiah 29:11 — What does this verse mean to you? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Is God referring to plans for our careers or athletic games? Our education or relationships? No. Main idea: this verse is not directed to us believers today, but specifically to the Jewish nation at a specific time in history. It does, however, exemplify the character of God that never changes and His eternal plan for a future through Jesus no matter our circumstances.  You are chosen and loved (1 Thessalonians 1:4). You are the head and not the tail. You are above, not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:31-39), and you can endure all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). In Christ Jesus, you have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). He is your shield and your help (Psalm 28:7). The gifts and callings God has gifted you with are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), and it’s in God’s mercy we have the opportunity to use those gifts (2 Corinthians 4:1). You are accepted by Christ (Romans 15:7), and He will never leave you (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Response: In what ways or circumstances do you personally struggle with purpose? If having purpose in "being a child of God" doesn't satisfy you, why? What are we needing to change about ourselves (selfish or sinful desires) to be content with God? How can we lean into faithfulness (expanding on the 'feeling' of faith to knowing why we have faith) over ability regarding purpose? (Romans 10:17) What does finding peace with God, (how do you keep peace with a friend?) worshipping Him, (can worship be beyond music?) and enjoying Him look like (if you're not enjoying God, is there's something that needs to be uprooted within you (John 3:30)? Worshipping God isn't singing songs all day. It's working and serving with eternity in mind. Avodah: (Hebrew: עֲבוֹדָה), literally means "work, worship, and service" in Hebrew. As Ella's mom says, "It's a way of life!" To do all for God's glory and fellowship with Him. Video: SEE THE PURPOSE by Nick Vujicic (3 mins) God is not asking us to be able. He’s asking us to be faithful. What is ability based on?  What is faithfulness based on?  Our VALUE must be defined by our FAITH and FAITHFULNESS in knowing God -- not our ABILITY and what we define in ourselves.“For God so loved (valued) the world, that He gave (worth) His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 “An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value (God loves you) is more precious than jewels and her worth (through Jesus) is far above rubies or pearls.” Proverbs 31:10 BIBLE VERSES: Genesis 1:27 Luke 12:7 : John 3:16
VALUE (noun):
{ Black Licorice } Around my birthday my sister will send me a large box of Jelly Bellys. There are 40 different flavors included and I am eager to try all of them -- except for black licorice. I’ve personally never been a fan. Those poor beans. I’ve never been so happy to throw something away. However, one sulky, sad day as I was reaching for the flavor next to it I thought to myself, “I feel unwanted too.” That was all it took for a heart problem to form. I questioned my value in this life while undergoing a struggling circumstance and I allowed thoughts in my mind to question God’s love for me. I sat there perplexed at the thought that such a small bean could destroy me in this way until I felt a small tug on my heart to do some research on licorice. I discovered that licorice root has not only been used for candies but was used for centuries for its medical benefits. It benefits your stomach, respiratory system, reduces stress, protects your skin and teeth, and has even been used to aid in cancer treatments. How can something so unwanted and unloved offer so much life to our bodies? The truth is, our worth and value are not measured by how we feel. Despite the days and feelings that come and go, the value God has created in each one of us as His children will not expire or disappear. We are created in His image (imago dei) and when we choose to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30-31), the Bible says we are new creations in Jesus and can begin to understand all He has purposed us in that image and that we are valued and worth far more than anything the world has to offer. We can wake up one day and physically feel ill but our value will remain. Someone may treat us poorly and break our hearts, but our worth will remain intact. Know (the Bible and its evidence) and trust (by faith) that your value comes from God and not this world. Video: Your Value by Jeremy Anderson RESPONSE: What’s the difference between a heart problem and a sin problem? Is questioning okay? Is it Biblical? In what ways have you allowed yourself to question your value? Read Mark 12:30-31. Why do you believe Jesus makes a list to love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength? What is the purpose in Him defining each category? What are things you value in your life? How can they point you to Jesus? |
Brittany M. WhiteI'm so thankful for this time with the girls on Fridays. Thank you for trusting me with their hearts. I'll use this space to post our lessons in case you'd like to revisit! 
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