Bible Verse of the Day Thursday May 25th, 2023

 Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

This verse is a mandate from the Lord: Children of God should never display a cold, stand-offish attitude. On the contrary, in respect and esteem, giving fondness to each other shows that affection is genuine. In this, as much as anything, we should see a call to simple good manners among Christians.

Christians should show due appreciation and respect to others in God’s family. We should maintain this in the forepart of our thinking because our natural inclination is to think of ourselves first and foremost. Therefore, our standing in the community of Christians should not be our significant apprehension. Many Christian brothers and sisters are envious of other followers of Christ. They envy the adoration or devotion that the church bestows on others. Unfortunately, this stance has split churches. Instead of surpassing others to gain predominance, we should outshine one another in glorifying other believers.

The Christian virtues of kindness and courtesy mark the congenial believer. The amiable, pleasant person is a joy to be around. They are considerate with tact and sensitivity. They put us at ease. Benevolence and kindliness involve giving of oneself. It's a communal give and takes with equal composure. It says thank you, refilling the giver with commendations from our soul. It tempers with insensitive truth. It accepts downfall without bitterness, without arrogance. Graciousness pays its way in giving, and it does so secretly, turning its stare to avoid the eyes of the beneficiary.

Kindness is akin to a pebble thrown into the lake, creating a series of rings of continuing happenings that penetrate the lives of those around us. Cordiality requires us to do what’s best in our human capacity. It pulls from us an emotional investment and a new reinvestment daily. Furthermore, the genuinely courteous and well-mannered person is never a bore, so we seek their fellowship. When we walk away from this person, we feel a sense of acceptance and the knowledge that our friend understands what we are going through and, more importantly, really cares about our situation.