“Kindness validates a friend’s feelings without prescribing solutions.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 10, 2024
The fruit of the Spirit is kindness. Galatians 5:22
For Christians, kindness comes from the Holy Spirit’s inner work of compassion, which expresses itself in outward deeds. Random acts of kindness are divine encounters wrought to illustrate God’s kindness. Kindness is more than being nice; it is discerning another’s point of pain and, with Spirit-led sensitivity, bringing them relief. A kind action may come in the form of a gift, a word of wisdom, a verbal prayer, an introduction, or an affirmation.
Because of God’s great kindness, He gave His son Jesus to save sinners and to grow saints. And for all who believe, He grants a seat to sit at His table as an adopted child of God. Yes, we are sons and daughters of the Most High! What a privilege to have access to our heavenly Father’s vast resources of grace, wisdom, love, forgiveness, and holiness. His kindness leads us to repentance, guides us in character growth, and graduates us to heaven.
“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. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5).
Have you been wronged? If so, consider an act of kindness in response. Extend gentleness in the face of harshness. Give authentic affirmation to someone weighted down by disappointment. Ask how your server is doing and leave them a generous gratuity. Validate your friend’s feelings without prescribing solutions. Open your home to those who need a safe and secure environment. Kindness comes from feeling accepted. Not everyone will affirm your kindness; some will use you—so react kindly to the unkind.
Be kind to your spouse, who may be in the middle of an emotional meltdown. Be kind to your child, who made a foolish decision. Be kind to those whose political views are opposite of yours. Be kind to a work associate who is not pulling his or her weight. Be kind to the unkind, the handicapped, the elderly, the uneducated, and the immigrant. Kindness heals and gives hope. Most of all, your kindness is an invitation to the kindness of God!
“The king asked, ‘Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?’ Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet’” (2 Samuel 9:3).
Prayer
Lord, cultivate in me the fruit of kindness, that I may reflect your compassionate heart. Help me to show kindness to all, even those who may not deserve it. May my words and actions be filled with gentleness and grace, revealing your love to the world. Amen.
Application
Where in my life is the Lord’s kindness leading me to repentance?
Related Reading
Ezra 9:9; Hosea 11:3-4; Acts 4:9; 28:2; Romans 2:4; 11:22
Worship Resource
Tiffany Hudson: All Hail King Jesus
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