Act Of Kindness
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Acts 4:1-31 and Psalm 4:1-8 (NIV)
(Lawrence Lim, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Psalm 4:5 – “Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord.”
Acts 4:9-10 – “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”
OBSERVE:
Psalm 4:5 highlights the importance of offering sacrifices with a pure heart and trusting God fully.
In Acts 4, Peter and John heal a lame man in Jesus’ name, an act of kindness born from faith and love. Despite opposition, they boldly proclaim Christ as the source of healing. Their kindness, rooted in righteousness and trust in God, becomes a powerful testimony of His grace.
Together, these passages show that acts of kindness, performed with trust in God and a righteous heart, glorify Him and impact others.
APPLY:
Peter and John’s example teaches me to reflect God’s love through intentional acts of kindness. This could mean meeting others’ physical or emotional needs or simply offering encouragement.
Intentional acts of kindness may require us to step out of our comfort zone and trust God in His leading (Ps 4). My wife and I experienced this during a block party for elderly residents in Jalan Besar. At the block party, the small group members were supposed to interact with the elderly residents through games and over a meal. My wife was initially worried about joining because of her lack of knowledge of dialects, fearing she might struggle to connect. However, when we started to engage, God made a way—all the elderly residents at our table were able to speak Mandarin or English, and I even had the joy of conversing in Cantonese with 2 elderly ladies , who reminded me of my grandmother. God showed us that He can work through our limitations when we step out in faith. He has also opened the door for a possible on-going relationship as the 2 elderly ladies agreed to our request of visiting them monthly.
DO:
I commit to visit 2 elderly ladies monthly with my small group, trusting God to guide the relationships.
I will participate in outreach activities, looking for opportunities to bless others.
I pray for boldness to share the gospel through actions and words.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching me the power of righteous living and acts of kindness. Help me trust in You fully, even when challenges arise. Empower me to reflect Your love through service and to draw others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
