Kindness

Kindness. We live in a world that lacks it.

A rare commodity, kindness is.

I remember growing up in a private Christian school, and we had something called “A.R.K.”

Acts of Random Kindness. If someone did something kind and it was noticed by another, they’d write it down, and that person’s kindness would be recognized! It was praised!

What if kindness wasn’t something random, but it was intentional with every encounter we have?

We’ve read it before and we’ve heard it at all the weddings, “Love is patient, love is kind.”

But it’s as simple as this: If we are not being kind, we are not being loving.

Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)

Kindness is evidence of God’s love.

And if we are demonstrating God’s love, the people around us will see and fully experience God Himself because God is Love. (1 John 4:12)

And Love is Kind. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

God is kind.

My dad taught my sisters and I at an early age:

“There is no excuse to be rude.”

Here’s the phrase inverted:

We have every excuse to be kind.

“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other!” (1 John 4:11)

We must love one another.

We must be kind to one another.

Now more than ever, our friends and our enemies.

Oh, how our character would be strengthened if we lived with the intentionality to be kind! And not so that we would be seen, but so that God would be seen and glorified.

A wise princess once said, “Have courage and be kind.” That’s pretty godly counsel when you think about it.

How can we respond?

1. God is kind. This means, we must be kind to ourselves.

2. How can we demonstrate kindness in every encounter we have?

3. Pause and think through your day today. Imagine every encounter being one filled with kindness and demonstrating God’s love.

4. Carry His Presence with you, and fill up on Him as much and as often as you need. God cannot run out of kindness.

Like those acts of random kindness in my school so many years ago, the acts demonstrated integrity and were pure in heart, not seeking to be seen. And yet, they couldn’t help but be seen. Secret kindness is seen and rewarded by the Father, and He is proud His children choose to be kind like Him. As His children, we should want to resemble the Father, daily and intentionally taking after His character and heart.

Friends, it’s time for us to take heart. Ask God the Holy Spirit to fill you with Himself, giving you the desire to share His love and kindness with the people around you today.