LIVING AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (part-06)

“KINDNESS” IS A GODLY CHARACTERISTIC EXPECTED OF CHRISTIANS

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:32)

MEDITATION:
Whenever we surrender our lives to the Lord, it is a decision that calls for
a change in our lives. It is also an agreement on our part that we are willing
to accept and embrace the changes we will experience. For us to be changed
effectively, we must redirect our focus from ourselves to others.

It doesn’t mean we are no longer important, but our focus has shifted. We have
a responsibility to meet God’s expectations, which is to have a new and greater
consideration of other people, and becoming more focused on having a positive
influence on others. Even though we have emotional needs ourselves, God wants
us to look for opportunities to encourage others.

When we accept our new role, we can discover the joy associated with encouraging
and lifting the spirits of others. It is a significant change that includes developing
a new attitude with a desire to be more kind to others. For some of us, it will mean
‘learning’ a new skill. Why should we ‘learn’ to be more kind to others? Because
God’s Word commands us to, “be kind and compassionate to one another”.

When we are kind and compassionate to others, we are following the example
of Jesus (our Savior who is kind to us). We have made a conscious decision to
obey His instructions, which are given to those who are His followers.

If we are to succeed in our obedience to the Lord, we need to be aware that Satan
will plant all kinds of negative thoughts in our minds, such as,
    “They don’t deserve encouragement and kindness!”
  or,
    “What have they ever done for me?”

Overcoming these thoughts will be easier if we pause and remember how Jesus
treated others, and how He prays for His followers. Look at these words He said
to the Father:
    My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that
    You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world,
    even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word
    is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into
    the world.
    (John 17:15-18)

As a reminder, sanctification is God’s process of removing unrighteousness
from our lives and filling the void with more righteousness. It is a lifelong
process that begins when we surrender our lives to following Jesus. Some
will resist God’s changes, but those who embrace His changes will experience
a new closeness to Him and a greater concern for the welfare of others.

Here are a few scriptures which remind us to be kind:

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
(Proverbs 12:25)
    Others are blessed by our kindness; we have the capacity to cheer
    them up (this should be our inspiration and motivation for being kind).

Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. (Proverbs 11:17)
    We benefit from being kind to others; anything that is opposite
    of kindness is detrimental to us. (we need to remember this when
    we have a desire to ‘get revenge’, or to ‘put someone down’)

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is
to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the
many good things He has done for Israel, according to His
compassion and many kindnesses. (Isaiah 63:7)
    We should be prepared and have a desire to tell others
    about the Lord’s kindness to us (and to all mankind).
    This is one part of our testimony.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
it does not boast, it is not proud. (1 Corinthians 13:4)
    Kindness is an indication we have a Godly love in our hearts.
    Think about what that means for us as we strive to become
    more like Jesus.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22)
    When we are kind, it indicates the presence
    (and use) of at least one spiritual gift God has given us.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
    Kindness shows that we have a desire to ‘wear God’
    in our daily lives; we don’t just talk about our faith,
    but we live it daily (others can see it in our lives).

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be
kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2 Timothy 2:24)
    We are not given the option of choosing which people will
    receive our kindness, we are instructed to “be kind to everyone”.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it
by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from
wisdom. (James 3:13)
    Kindness is an indication that we have received,
    and are using Godly wisdom in the way we live.

ACTION:
If someone asked us to talk about the last time we showed kindness
to someone with no expectations of anything in return, how would
we respond? Could we speak only about the kindness we have shown
to those in our ‘inner circle’, or would it be much broader and include
those who are not our closest friends?

Whenever we encourage others, it is an act of kindness. Everyone can
use encouragement, including those who are actively serving the Lord.
Those sharing God’s messages can sometimes feel like it’s a thankless
effort. Why? Because Satan tries to discourage them as much as possible.
When he can succeed in causing a pastor to ‘walk away’ from the mission 
which God has called him to serve, he knows it can have a negative impact  
on many others.

Another way to show kindness is to be willing to forgive others (even when
they have hurt us deeply in some way). If we ‘selectively forgive’, then we
can cause damage to our own relationship with the Lord.
    For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,
    your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do
    not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive
    your sins.
    (Matthew 6:14-15)

As true believers and followers of Jesus, being kind is not an option, it is
an expectation and a command from the Lord. Satan wants us to become
critical, disrespectful, rude and condescending, but God commands us to
be people who are kind, considerate and encouraging. We should never
forget God’s promise that being kind to others will be beneficial to us as
well. Encouragement is one effective way of being kind to other people.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for not obeying Your
command to be kind to others. Help me to make the
changes I need to make so I will seriously consider
my responsibility of being kind to others, even if it is
not well received or appreciated by them. Remind me
that showing kindness is proof of by desire to obey and
please You. Help me to be sensitive and look for more
opportunities to be kind to others. Give me the wisdom
to know when others need encouragement, and to know
what to do or say at the right time. Thank You for Your
love, forgiveness, encouragement and kindness to me!”

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