Kindness Archives - Do Not Depart

There’s never a reason to be unkind.

Never a reason to forget we all are made

in the image of God alone.

These are lyrics from a song in a church play my six year old participated in recently. It’s a sweet story about a group of super heroes, the Agape League, each with the extraordinary ability to show God’s love through the power of the Spirit available to every believer.

This song about kindness has become a mantra in my house, reminding us how powerful kindness actually can be.

Kindness is the quality of being generous, considerate, thoughtful, caring, and friendly. It’s basically being nice. Actions become kindness when the intent of the heart is to love the person you are being nice to. God’s heart towards us is love and so his actions towards us are kind.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works. Psalm 145:17

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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35

The kindness developed through our time with the Spirit has the power to ease pain, heal wounds, bridge gaps, and restore relationships.

Kindness welcomes, builds, and heals

There are studies that show how plants thrive in nurturing environments, especially when they are spoken to kindly, but wither when they are ignored or yelled at. Kindness opens our hearts, so we are receptive to what is offered.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” – Colossians 3:12-13

“The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.” Acts 28:2

Kindness takes the sting out of discipline and leads to repentance.

“Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.” Psalm 141:5

There is nothing fun about being put in our place, even if, deep down, we understand that we deserve it. As a parent I know my children receive correction better when it given in kindness. It is not a weakness or a half-hearted attempt indulging bad behavior. A firm boundary, rooted in love, is a blessing and a protection.

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” – Titus 3:3-5

Kindness is powerful. Like the peel of the fruit it invites us to taste the goodness, experience the nutrition, and enjoy the benefits of relationship with God. Praise Him today for his loving kindness!

My Heavenly Father is not only just, but kind.

He is El Shaddai, meaning “God Almighty”, who possesses the power to adequately nourish, supply and satisfy. He is the ultimate nurturing Parent.

He is a Father who sees and cares. He saw Hagar in the desert as she abandoned her dying son under a tree. He provided a way out.

“God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation. Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water…God was with the boy as he grew up.” (Genesis 21:17,18, 20a)

The Greek word for kindness is chrestotes, which means “tender concern for others. It is the genuine desire of a believer to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats him. It is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere.” (The MacArthur NT Commentary Galatians).

Every week of the “Abiding Fruit Bible Study” I found myself specifically needing the fruit of the Spirit we are studying. This past week was no exception.

Last Thursday my 2-year-old was sick. Fever and weakness removed his independent spirit and he melted into my arms. He longed for my comfort. In his pathetic state it was natural for me to be tender & nurturing.

While I was preoccupied with my sick son, my 4-year-old son was desperate for attention. He acted out at every chance he had; disobedience, aggression towards his brothers, destroying everything in his path. It was difficult for me to want to show him grace. My innate reaction was harshness & frustration.

As parents we love our children. God made us, in His image, to nurture and care for them. However, we also know that there are times it is difficult to show them kindness.

I realized through reading Titus 3:3-8 that God demonstrated His kindness towards us not while we were easy to nurture, but in our sinful state (“foolish, disobedient, deceived…in malice and envy”).

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:4-5a

We had done nothing to endear us to Him. We deserved wrath and harshness but were granted tenderness. Undeserved kindness.

God went beyond just comforting us in our sin. He sacrificed His own Son to save us from our sin. Then he poured His kindness generously. He gave us full access to Him through the Holy Spirit, made us His own sons and daughters and gave us the hope of eternal life with Him!

This generous kindness is available to us through His Spirit. By abiding in the Spirit we can have the disposition of kindness.

It doesn’t stop there. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness…all proceed goodness. All the fruit that we have learned to this point are necessary for us to do good works for His glory.

We will see this week that goodness is kindness in action.

“Without kindness, goodness becomes harsh and self-righteous. Without goodness, kindness becomes indulgent tolerance. Only the Holy Spirit can provide balance…” -Beth Moore

May you be nurtured and loved by your Heavenly, Almighty, Father. May you abide in His Spirit to take on the disposition of kindness, to those who are deserving and undeserving. This week may you learn how the Spirit allows your kindness to take action in your goodness.