Crowded Kindnesses
Blog / Produced by The High Calling
The nineteenth century Scottish preacher, Alexander MacLaren, once said, "Seek to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindnesses of God in your daily life." Many of those kindnesses come from God through those around us. Yet often we respond with pickiness and demands, or by hiding behind a façade of prideful self-sufficiency. We are what Lloyd Ogilvie calls "stingy receivers."
Jesus modeled what it means to give ourselves away, but his life also is an example of a gracious receiver. He freely accepted what people brought him in a spirit of worship. In Philippians 4, Paul shows us what it means to celebrate others' gifts to us—really gifts to God through us. When our attitude and actions discourage others' generosity, we risk interfering in their relationship with God. When we receive the gifts and kindness of others graciously and humbly, we encourage generosity.
Jesus modeled what it means to give ourselves away, but his life also is an example of a gracious receiver. He freely accepted what people brought him in a spirit of worship. In Philippians 4, Paul shows us what it means to celebrate others' gifts to us—really gifts to God through us. When our attitude and actions discourage others' generosity, we risk interfering in their relationship with God. When we receive the gifts and kindness of others graciously and humbly, we encourage generosity.
Dear Lord, help me every day to gratefully receive through those around me the "crowded kindnesses" from your hand. And help me to encourage others' generosity by receiving graciously . . . in the name of Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Amen.
