Recipe for the Christian Life - KINDNESS
Today is the seventh post in the series on growing in our Christian Walk. Developing a Christian life is kind of like baking a recipe - good ingredients create a perfect treat. Adding good characteristics to our faith produces good Christians.
If you recall, a few months ago we started with an empty mixing bowl - our FAITH. And then we've been adding to our faith, we combined: GOODNESS , KNOWLEDGE , SELF-CONTROL , PERSEVERANCE.and GODLINESS.
Today we are going to add in KINDNESS.
It's always good to start with the very basic definition of "kindness" (from online dictionaries):
kindness - the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate; compassion, sympathy, thoughtfulness, helpfulness and charity.
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
There are 2 important points from the above verses:
1. When we are kindhearted we can't expect anything in return - kindness is selfless. Our motives have to be correct otherwise our so-called "acts of kindness" will come across as very fake. Kindness has to be sincere.
2. Enemies - be kind to each other & EVERYONE ELSE. God is kind to everyone, including the "ungrateful and wicked" - our enemies. There is no getting even here - revenge only hurts both parties involved. So, we must be kind to both the nice and nasty alike.
"An anxious heart weighs down a man, but a kind word cheers him up"
(Proverbs 12:25)
This verse is so relevant today with so many people dealing with anxiety and panic disorders. Just think about words that are positive or negative; both have such an extreme but opposite effect on the recipient. There have been many times in my life when my heart has been weighed down with life's struggles and hardships. Just one encouraging word from a friend can lift me up out of the darkness and get me back on track to thinking of others instead of myself.
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done"
(Proverbs 19:17)
(Proverbs 12:25)
This verse is so relevant today with so many people dealing with anxiety and panic disorders. Just think about words that are positive or negative; both have such an extreme but opposite effect on the recipient. There have been many times in my life when my heart has been weighed down with life's struggles and hardships. Just one encouraging word from a friend can lift me up out of the darkness and get me back on track to thinking of others instead of myself.
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done"
(Proverbs 19:17)
How interesting that being kind to someone else actually benefits us personally. Have you ever volunteered for anything? - maybe at a homeless shelter or at the YMCA? I have and it really did feel like I had received a healthy, "down-to-the-bone" blessing (an outpouring of the Holy Spirit). Isn't there a saying something like: help yourself by helping others.
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6 & 7
Jesus is the ultimate example of kindness.
By adding KINDNESS to our faith, we are glorifying God, helping others, while still benefiting ourselves.
Over the next few weeks we will continue adding to the GOODNESS, KNOWLEDGE, SELF-CONTROL, PERSEVERANCE, GODLINESS & KINDNESS in our faith (from 2 Peter 1:3-11).
Over the next few weeks we will continue adding to the GOODNESS, KNOWLEDGE, SELF-CONTROL, PERSEVERANCE, GODLINESS & KINDNESS in our faith (from 2 Peter 1:3-11).
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Take Up The THANKFULNESS Challenge!
I challenge you to thank God for something everyday for one year! Either write it down in a diary OR share with us on a blog. If you have a blog & would like to share your THANKFULNESS posts with us, then please fill out this form: 365 Days of Being THANKFUL form - click HERE and you will be added to the THANKFULNESS page.
