Galatians 5:22,23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”.
Today the topic of kindess will be addressed. This is an attitude of the heart and an action. We can be kind without God, but it's supercharged and given to all with His power. The definition is to be friendly, generous and considerate.
God's brand of kindness is different and wonderful. Luke 6:35 says, "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." This is what God does, He loves everyone. Even those that are His enemies. This is unheard of in the world. It's about demanding rights and standing up for what's ours. To go the second mile and to be kind to enemies is foreign, if not foolish.
How do we explain the times when Jesus challenged the authorities? Those times didn't seem like kindness. Mark 9:42 helps us with that, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea." We are to be kind to those that are our enemies, however, we are to be the defenders of others. We are to be kind to those that wrong us, but to be defenders to those that harm others.
Romans 11:22 shares informative aspects of God, "See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off." God's kindness is offered to all. However, some reject it. For them, kindness is replaced with severity.
Some are deceived with a mix of ideas. No one likes to see themselves as sinners and most know that God is love. Instead of trying to understand eternity, they rest on His love thinking God will give them the benefit of the doubt and will wave them in.
There are two errors that exist: the first is, if many don't want anything to do with God in this life, why would they expect to enter God's home, heaven? The second is what about the death of Jesus? That's a big deal for the creator of all to die. Yes it was for the forgiveness of sins, but what's our part in receiving it? While it's free, accepting it also crowns Him as lord in our lives. We are now to live with Him as our king.
Following Him mean true freedom and guidance on a wonderful path. It also means our relationship is one of kindness, not severity. Those that ignore that offramp have chosen severity. He will still reach out and they will sense His invitations, but they are rejecting Him. If that continues, they have missed His kindness.
Jesus is the greatest revolutionary of all time. None of them has His message, to love their enemies. This is what the song means when it says, "they will know we are christians by our love". This takes God's love in our hearts. Ezekiel 36:29 says, "More over I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." This is what happens at the new birth, we get a new heart. We will still need to rely on Him for love, but we are on a different frequency. We will be loving our enemies.
Lord, thank You for Your kindness. Help us to stay in it. Thank You that You work in us to be kind to others. Thank You for that miracle in our lives.