The Power of Kindness

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!