Kindness

Good Samaritan at the Inn - Alexandre Bida

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Galatians 5:7-26

TO CHEW ON: "But the fruit of the Spirit is … kindness" - Galatians 5:22

Tucked in amongst the heady graces of love, joy, peace, and faithfulness is common, everyday kindness.

My Bible's Word Wealth article defines it:
[Kindness  - chrestotes - is goodness in action, sweetness of disposition, gentleness in dealing with others, benevolence, kindness, affability. The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience.. The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control - Dick Mills, New Spirit-Filled life Bible, p. 1638.]

This fruit-of-the-Spirit list is not the only place that kindness is prescribed and expected of God's people:

• The "upright" are described as "gracious and full of compassion" in Psalm 112:4.

• "What is desired in a man is kindness…" says wise Solomon - Proverbs 19:22.

• Paul includes kindness in several more of his instructions about the Christian life:

- "Be kindly affectionate to one another…" Romans 12:10.
- "Love … is kind …" - 1 Corinthians 13:4.
- "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another" - Ephesians 4:32.
- "… as the elect of God … put on … kindness" - Colossians 3:12.

What does kindness look like? Here are seven examples of kindness from the Bible:

1. It is taking the needy into one's home to feed and clothe them - Isaiah 58:7.
2. It is shown by how we ourselves speak and how we train our children. Proverbs describes the excellent wife: "She opens her mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue" - Proverbs 31:26 (NASB).
3. It is forgiveness. Joseph showed mercy and spoke kindly to his brothers who had sold him into slavery - Genesis 50:21.
4. It is standing up for the weak and picked on, as Moses did for the daughters of Jethro - Exodus 2:17.
5. It is a kept promise. David was kind to Mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul keeping his promise to his friend Jonathan - 2 Samuel 9:1.
6. It is gentleness with foreigners, shown in the way Boaz treated Ruth - Ruth 2:15,16.
7. It is getting involved, like the Good Samaritan cared for the beat-up traveler in Jesus' story - Luke 10:34.

I'm sure you get the idea…

Let's be on the lookout for opportunities to show kindness today—as we interact with family members, talk to each other in person, on the phone or online, drive, shop, eat out—whatever we do.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to forsake my brusque, demanding tendencies. I need You to keep sanding my abrasiveness of spirit to a smooth patina of kindness. Amen. 

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The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Used with permission.