2 Peter 1:6
“and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
I’m focusing on the second to last trait Peter gives of the mature christian, brotherly kindness. As I have been studying the word, I was surprised how much the word was ascribed to God.
As I think of kindness, I think of it being a weaker trait, as if anyone could be kind. Yet, if it’s of God, it isn’t weak. Before I get into human kindness I want to focus on the kindness of God. Romans 4:2 says that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. I can almost picture a scared animal that’s lured in by a safe person. God’s kindness attracts us.
When I think of kindness elementary school teachers come to mind. They have a safe warmth about them. They are so accepting and nurturing. It’s difficult to attribute that to God. However, He is the author of kindness. Those teachers aren’t more kind than God.
Jesus was kind. This can be seen while talking to Nicodemus in John 3. He was also kind to Zacchaeus. He was kind to children. He was also kind to the rich young ruler. He wasn’t kind to those who abusing others: the pharisees and the money changers. It’s as if he saw their lack of kindness and confronted it.
Kindness is how God wants to treat people. Sometimes we need something else. Yet, kindness is His preference.
God wants us to be kind. We are to be accepting and warm. That is to be our default action. There are those that are abusive. Our kindness needs to be put on hold. They need something else. To them, kindness would be casting pearls before swine. Kindness comes later. Kindness given to the harsh would be weak. Jesus wasn’t that.
Lord, thank You for Your kindness. That You draw us by it. Help us to be kind to one another