Our Daily Bread 4th July 2020 Devotional – The Kindness Man
TODAY’S TOPIC: THE KINDNESS MAN
Bible in a Year: Job 28–29; Acts 13:1–25
Key Verse: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her. – Luke 7:13
Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:11–17 (NIV)
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
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Insight: Our Daily Bread 4th July 2020 Devotional
In the entire Bible, the town of Nain is only mentioned here in Luke 7. It was located more than twenty miles southwest of Capernaum (Jesus’ northern ministry headquarters on the Sea of Galilee) and about seven miles south of Nazareth (Jesus’ boyhood home).
As such, it’s right in the middle of Christ’s home territory. As the site of a miracle of life out of death, however, Nain has even more significance. It was close to the ancient site of Shunem, a city that no longer existed except in the memory of the people. Why was it remembered?
At Shunem, Elisha the prophet raised a woman’s son from the dead (2 Kings 4:8–36). No wonder, then, that when Jesus raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead, the people responded by declaring, “A great prophet has appeared among us” (Luke 7:16). They still remembered what Elisha had done!
TODAY’S MESSAGE: OUR DAILY BREAD 4TH JULY 2020 DEVOTIONAL
Disillusioned and wanting a more meaningful life, Leon quit his job in finance. Then one day he saw a homeless man holding up this sign at a street corner: KINDNESS IS THE BEST MEDICINE. Leon says, “Those words rammed straight into me. It was an epiphany.”
Leon decided to begin his new life by creating an international organization to promote kindness. He travels around the world, relying on strangers to provide him with food, gas, and a place to stay. Then he rewards them, through his organization, with good deeds such as feeding orphans or building on to a school for underprivileged children. He says, “It’s sometimes seen as being soft. But kindness is a profound strength.”
Christ’s very essence as God is goodness, so kindness naturally flowed from Him. I love the story of what Jesus did when He came upon the funeral procession of a widow’s only son (Luke 7:11–17). The grieving woman most likely was dependent on her son for financial support. We don’t read in the story that anyone asked Jesus to intervene. Purely from the goodness of His nature (v. 13), He was concerned and brought her son back to life. The people said of Christ, “God has come to help his people” (v. 16). By: Anne Cetas
Reflect: What kindnesses does Jesus pour out on you? List them and thank Him.
Today’s Prayer: You, God, are always showering me with Your gifts of love. I praise You for caring for me.
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