THINK TOGETHER
Is it hard for you to be nice to others? To treat them with kindness? Why or why not?
READ TOGETHER
One of the meanest men in all the Bible was a man named Saul. The book of Acts tells us his story. Saul hated Christians. He hated them so much that he would arrest them, beat them, and even kill them. Saul was a very bad person who failed to be kind.
But then Saul met Jesus.
Listen to what Jesus says to Saul in this amazing story:
Acts 9:3-5. 3 Now as Saul went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
This story is super important. Why? Because Saul, having met Jesus in a bright light, will place his trust in Jesus and turn from his sin. Saul will become a great missionary and apostle for Jesus. Maybe you know him as the Apostle Paul.
But this story is important for another reason too. Listen again to the question that Jesus asks Saul – “Why are you persecuting ME?”
Me?
Wait a minute. Saul wasn’t persecuting Jesus. He didn’t even know Jesus. Jesus was already back up in heaven. So why did Jesus accuse Paul of persecuting him? What can we learn from this?
We can learn that the way we treat other people is the way we are treating Jesus himself. To be kind to another person, especially another Christian, is to be kind to Jesus. But to be mean to another person is to be mean to Jesus.
If Jesus was in the room with you right now how would you treat him? Would you be nice to him? Would you get him whatever he wants? Would you make him a snack and let him use your stuff? Would you listen to him and do what he asks you to do?
I hope so.
And did you know that Jesus IS in the room with you. And did you know that Jesus is in the other people that are around you. Your family. And your friends. And your neighbors. And your classmates. The way we treat each other is the way we are treating Jesus.
So don’t be mean to Jesus. And don’t be mean to others. Choose kindness instead. How? By remembering that Jesus was kind to you first. At the cross God showed his great kindness to us. Let God’s great kindness to you make you want to be kind to others.
Because of Jesus God has been kind to us.
With Jesus we can be kind to others.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Talk about ways that you can be kind to each other in your family. What about outside your family too.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus,
You are so kind to me. Help me to be kind to others.
Amen.
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