Proverbs 3:3 - Kindness and Truth

Scripture

Proverbs 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Observation

Kindness and truth are attributes that are worn both internally and externally. Displaying kindness and truth is a great witness to a dark and lonely world. But You can't wear these attributes on the outside for very long, without them first being established and renewed on the inside through daily time with God.

When I think about binding kindness and truth around your neck, I think about tattoo's and then think about my husband.  Now my husband only has one tattoo, it just starts at his neck and goes down to his toes.  When he first started getting tattoo's it was to protect himself, keeping people at arm distance.  It was his way of embracing the label of outcast.

Some Christians have told him that he is going to hell because he has tattoo's. Clearly they missed the lesson Jesus gives to the Pharisee's in Matthew 23:25. And just like me they could learn a few things by watching God work through Tim.  My husband has tattoo's of scriptures and love on him, as well as some from the past which look a little scary.  Oh doesn't that just sound like each one of us.  We are being transformed into the image of Christ, but we still have some of the junk of the past hanging around.  We, however, might choose to mask it, in order to keep the façade of "Super Christian".  He chooses to display it on the outside.

When the outcasts see him (who by the way, Jesus came for), they believe that the grace of God may also be for them, that church isn't a place full of hypocrite's, and God just might love them unconditionally.  It is a marvelous thing to behold and I am honored to be his wife.  Yes, Tim has in the most literal sense bound kindness and love around his person and is drawing people to the kingdom of God through it.

Application

I don't want to say I love Christ, but then look down on others with contempt and judgment. Jesus came for all of us and He is constantly working in and through all of us until we are perfect in Him. 

Prayer

Father of mercy and grace, I adore You.  You are so creative, making us all differently, but perfect for Your purpose. LORD, I pray for my fellow brother's and sister's in Christ.  I pray that we would all write Your truth and kindness on our hearts and then live it out.  That the same grace You so abundantly gave us, we would lavishly give to others.  Father God, help us to search out way's to show kindness and to speak Your word in love to others. That we would encourage those around us daily and You do with us each day. Father, thank You for giving me such a wonderful husband, I am truly blessed.