Daily Devotional, Sept 6, 2023 The little things

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

When it comes to works of art, fashion, architecture, and other facets of visual artistry, even the smallest of details matter. Tiny designs make up the whole story of what the artist wanted to convey through his craft. Like these little details, small acts of kindness are meant to lead us to a life that glorifies the Lord.

I often wondered about this phrase when I was much younger. I asked myself, what big undertaking can I do to glorify the name of Jesus? Until one day I was listening to my favorite preacher and he mentioned that doing even the smallest act of kindness glorifies God because it prompts others to praise Him.

For instance, merely helping out someone that person later to thank the Lord for sending help. Calling up a friend, who is despairing deep inside without your knowledge, could give her the hope she needs to carry on with her day.

Small acts of kindness may seem mundane and effortless to some, while to others, doing a spontaneous good deed could be a bit of a hassle, but we must remember that this is the kind of life that God wants us to live. In His letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul urged church members to “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

We should ask ourselves, does our presence lead others to thank and praise God for our life and what we do, or do other people dread it when they see us because we cause them a lot of stress?

In the old testament, we were told about how Abram went out of his way to rescue his nephew Lot when he got into trouble. Despite being offered a reward by a king, he did not take it. The Lord instead appreciated Abram and assured him of his continuous presence in His life: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great.” (Genesis 15:1). 

So whether we are being thanked for the good deed that we do; whether the person we showed kindness did bless the Lord or not; we can rest assure that our God sees everything that we do. He will be pleased even by the smallest acts of generosity and goodness that comes from our heart.

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Micah 6:6-8 and Luke 10:25-37 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: When was the last time you moved others to praise the Lord because of what you have done to them?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve others even through small acts of kindness. I praise you and I hope that I could live a life centered to you and to others, so that they may praise you too. Amen.