Whoever pursues justice and kindness will find life and honor. Proverbs 21:21 NABRE
This proverb hangs on the beginning word pursue. To pursue is to abandon all else and go toward something, in this case justice and kindness. To be just is to treat someone fairly to not be over bearing or partisan, but to look at others with impartiality. To pursue these things means we are doing good and God gives us strength and opportunity. To pursue is to work at it with the help of the Lord. It is moving toward loving the other. To be kind is a way of loving. I recently heard @andy_stanley say “love means to share your strength without highlighting the weakness of the other.” This is being kind. It is the message of Jesus to put others first, above ourselves. A Christian who learns from Jesus lives their life for the other proving they are a disciple of Jesus. The proverb goes on to say if we do pursue being right and kind we will live and have honor. This speaks precisely to what Jesus taught. If we are followers of Jesus we will have life and we will find honor from the Father and the Son. We live by trusting God, who watches over us and takes care of us. God hears the prayers of the just and kind and He answers them.
When we pursue what God wants us to pursue, we are focused on the right and the kind. God will lift us up and give us the strength, wisdom and spirit to do what He wills. We can always count on the power of God if we are pursuing the will of God. There is only good that can be done when we enlist God as a partner in doing what it is He wants us to do. Another quote of Andy’s that speaks to love is a question we should ask ourselves constantly; “What does love require of me?”
What does love require of you? Do you want a life and honor?
When we pursue what God wants us to pursue, we are focused on the right and the kind. God will lift us up and give us the strength, wisdom and spirit to do what He wills. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity#dailybibleverse @youversion#BeAnEncourager #pursue #kindness#proverbs #everybodyalways #god#jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood#dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture#bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray#prayer #goodnews #loveeachother#godisgreat #thisVineyard#youversion #everythingalways