BLESSINGS

…he maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45 (KJV)

After a drought of approximately five years, Texas has been saturated with rains—some gentle and some causing serious flooding. The wildflowers have been glorious, and we are seeing lush landscapes such as have been nonexistent for years. All because of the rain.

Has it occurred to you to notice that the rain falls on good people and on people we might judge to be bad? That’s what Jesus says in the Matthew passage above. God sends blessings—like rain—on everyone. Romans 2:4 goes on to say that God’s kindness is poured out to bring people to repentance.

If we wanted someone to repent, would we want to beat him into submission or would we, like God, saturate that person with kindness? Even our folk wisdom tells us that we can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Father, again you teach us that your love, your mercy, your goodness changes us in ways that no amount of criticism or disparaging could ever do. Remind us of your kindness to us and help us to reflect that every day to the people in our lives. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.