He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God?
The voice of the Lord cries to the city
(and he shall save those who fear his name):
Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city! —Micah 6:8-9 The Message

The political problem in our country today is a

problem; our expectations are too low for ourselves and our leaders.

“I don’t think Trump will win, but Harris will lose.” —Quote from an undecided voter

The U.S. Presidential election is 50 days away.

“There are two questions we have to ask ourselves, the first is ‘Where am I going?’ and the second is, ‘Who will go with me?’ If you ever get these questions in the wrong order, you are in trouble.” —Theologian & Professor Howard Thurman

Kindness is not a

.

Kindness is the power to change the

.

“You can’t wage war on people and reach them at the same time.” —Professor Ed Stetzer

Taking the position of “I’m with them” or “I’m against them” regardless of where they go or how they act is

.

“God cannot forget or tolerate the wickedness that is so prevalent, particularly in the cheating, stealing and lying that goes on in the name of commerce. God would be untrue to God’s own self if such evil were allowed to continue with no response.” —Old Testament Professor Daniel J. Simundson, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN

In 725BC, Micah’s task was to alert the people to the danger of impending events and to challenge their reliance on the hope that God will always protect them, no matter how flagrant their disobedience.

Israel was a tiny yet strategic and valuable piece of land, as it occupied the main

route between Asia and Africa.

Micah is only about 25 years old and warns that Israel will be destroyed because of

injustice. (Micah 3:9-12)

Fifty years of peace and prosperity in the northern kingdom of Israel ended in 722 BC, when the Assyrians conquered them and destroyed their capital, Samaria.

The people want to know what

thing they can do to make things right between God and the people.
Micah says, “It doesn’t work like that.” It will take a life-long commitment to justice, loving-kindness, and humility.

Kindness in the Bible

“Kindness” (hesed) in Hebrew has to do with

, loyalty, and faithfulness. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

“It describes the key element in relationships, whether in marriage or between human friends or between God and humanity.” —Professor Daniel J. Simundson

Hesed appears

times in the Old Testament.

Hesed is compassion, concern, mercy, loyalty, and

love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

What God requires is much more than a

act. (Luke 6:35-38)

God is more concerned with the way you live your everyday

than your religious practices.

Hesed is both what God

us and what God expects

Reveal Answer

us. (John 15:12-13)

Benefits of Engaging Kindness

When you show kindness, it lowers your blood pressure, helps you sleep better, and improves your

system.

Kindness blesses

the giver and the receiver. (Proverbs 21:21)

Kindness is a core part of the

life in Jesus. (Colossians 3:12-13)

Research Findings on Kindness

Witnessing our parents engage in kindness to

makes it more likely that we will too.

If someone

us that we’re kind, we are more likely to engage in acts of kindness.

If we witness someone being kind, a social bond is created that makes kindness

.

Action Steps:

Monday, Day 50: Hold the

for someone you don’t know.

Tuesday, Day 49: Do a

for someone without them knowing.

Wednesday, Day 48: Slow down to let someone merge in

of you in traffic.

Thursday, Day 47: Let someone go

of you in line.

Friday, Day 46: Give a

tip to someone who might not expect it.

Saturday, Day 45: Tell a friend what you

about their children.