30 Days Until - Countdown to Jubilee

FOR TODAY Watch the video "Why Be Kind."

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) While this witness is that of children, kindness is not child’s play. Kindness is hard work. It takes strength and intention to be kind. And, you never know how kindness will be received. It can be rejected and ridiculed. Today is the day after the election.   As of this writing, we do not yet know what that will mean. As you go about your day pay attention to the people around you. Practice a posture of kindness and dare to share the transformative power of compassion with someone who may be hurting today.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION In your life and in your context, what is involved in being strong enough to choose the way of kindness? What sort of sacrifice(s) does kindness require of you? How might practicing a posture of kindness help us all to become more child-like in our embrace of others?

In anticipation of the upcoming election, each day of this week we will invite you to pray an additional collect appointed from the Book of Common Prayer. A Prayer for the Common Good Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

STRENGTHEN

This third week focuses on the word strengthen. Soon we will gather virtually for our Jubilee revival. We hope it will be a time that we are strengthened as the people of God. Asking for strength is a testament of our faith; strength is not merely of our own, it is a gift from God. It can be so easy for us to give into worry, fear or despair; yet with God we pray for strength and look forward to wonderful things like our upcoming revival. Find all previous daily devotionals here