OCTOBER 11 - Unlikely Kindness
3-Year-Bible Reading: Proverbs 25:21–22; John 11
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3-Year Bible Devotional Book Available on Amazon
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“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” — Proverbs 25:21–22
“Jesus wept.” — John 11:35
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Have you ever been angry with someone—like, really angry—and then heard someone say, “Be kind to them anyway”? It feels impossible, right? Being kind to someone who hurt you isn’t usually our first instinct. And yet, in Proverbs 25:21–22, we’re told to care for even our enemies. That sounds backwards until you see it in action.
Jesus shows us this in John 11, when His friend Lazarus dies. Even though the people around Him are doubting and accusing Him, Jesus still shows deep compassion. He cries with them. He loves them. That kind of kindness doesn’t come from us—it comes from God.
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THINK ABOUT IT
1. Kindness as a Weapon? Why do you think Proverbs describes kindness to enemies as “heaping burning coals on their head”? How does choosing kindness challenge or surprise those who expect anger in return?
2. Jesus Wept: In John 11, Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus, yet He still cried. What does that tell you about how much He cares about our pain—even when He knows the ending will be good?
3. React or Reflect: When someone hurts you, do you react with anger or take time to reflect and respond with grace? How might praying before reacting help you love like Jesus?
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BOTTOM LINE
Loving like Jesus means showing compassion—even when it's hard. Kindness to those who hurt us doesn’t make us weak; it shows the power of God’s love working in us.
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PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Help me love people the way You love me—even when it’s hard. Teach me to respond to hurt with kindness, to choose grace instead of revenge, and to be a light in a world that often chooses hate. Thank You for showing me compassion, even when I fall short. Help me be more like Jesus every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
