Kindness requires humility, grace, genuine love, mercy, and at times, forgiveness.
Our compassionate God has displayed each of these attributes towards us throughout human history. So how do we follow His example?
Ask yourself three questions as you consider this:
>How and when do I show kindness towards others?
>What is my heart’s motive when I do so?
>Am I seeking to bless or to manipulate?
We are BLESSED to be a Blessing! (see Genesis 12)
Psalm 116:1-2 says He hears our voice and even turns His ear toward us when we call upon Him. Think of it!
The God of the Universe bends down to listen to you.
That’s a beautiful picture of humble kindness.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us that by God’s grace we have salvation which is God’s gift to us. He gives us what we don’t deserve.
Jeremiah 31:3 expresses God’s everlasting love for it states that He has draw us to Himself with lovingkindness. Even when we were enemies of God, He loved us and searched after us!
Exodus 34:5-7 records God’s relational heart as He showed His Glory to Moses. These words inform us of God’s mercy towards us:
5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord. 6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” ~ Exodus 34:5-7
Lastly, Ephesians 4:32 admonishes us to reflect God’s heart towards others.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other,
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
When you find it hard to be kind towards others,
pause and remember the times when others have been kind to you,
and also remember that kindness starts with God’s heart.
Ask God to give you His heart!
Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 