Are you a kind person? I believe that I am. Are people around you kind? How do you feel when someone is kind to you? How do you feel when they are unkind? How do you feel when you are kind to others? How do you feel when you are unkind to others. Let me share with you what I have learned about kindness.
As we are in the midst of the Christmas season people are really busy. They are stressed, overwhelmed, hurried, anxious, and so on. I have found in these times that a little bit of kindness goes a long way. The dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. I like the definition.
I have found that when I make an effort to be friendly, generous, and considerate that people around me respond well. They have more joy, hope and contentment. I have also found that I benefit as well in that I also have more joy, hope, and contentment.
This does not surprise me because the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (ESV) I have found that in part being kind is a command from God. I have also found that I am much better off when I follow God’s commands in my life. This idea is supported in Proverbs 11:17, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” (ESV) It is also an attribute of true love. “Love is patient and kind” 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV)
I know there are times that I am not kind. I take comfort I am a work in progress and the Holy Spirit is working in me. He is helping me to do better. In fact, I have found that kindness is a fruit from the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (ESV) I therefore believe that by yielding my life to the work of the Holy Spirit kindness will result.
I pray you will join me in turning your life over to the the Holy Spirit which will help you to be kind to others during this Christmas season and beyound. Remembering that God loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus Christ to restore our relationship with Him. Finally, know that God has something new every morning for us. It is these things that give us hope. Remember from past blogs that it is by knowing God that we have hope. The relationship with God through Jesus brings us hope in the present and the future. I would also encourage you to seek Jesus for He is the only opportunity there is to have eternal life. This is to me the greatest source of hope. In doing so, I believe we will have hope and joy during our everyday lives. Understanding that Jesus Christ allows us to access eternal life, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV) This will allow us to have hope. At the same time understanding you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ and this will bring you the greatest hope. Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for sins. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because holiness shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
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