Do you consider yourself a kind person
think about it a moment are you a kind person
would your children see you as kind your husband or wife see you as kind
kindness is a very very Christ-like characteristic and you don't hear much about kindness but the
Apostle Paul says it's the fruit of the spirit that is when the Holy Spirit is free in you and
me to live out what God intends for him to live out in us kindness is going to be one of them
a kind person is a person who stands out in a crowd they may not be the one who talks the most
but there's something about a kind person it's sort of a built-in attraction it's just there and
when a person's kind it not only shows in their face but naturally most of all in their actions
Proverbs 19:22 says what is desirable in a man is kindness that's Proverbs what is that
what is desirable in the man that is kindness now what does the world say muscular rich and
all the bunch of stuff that the world has the bible says what's desirable in a man is kindness
and if anybody should desire any quality in life I would place kindness right close to the top
kindness can change your family it can change your friendships it can change the people you mix with
kindness is a gift from God provided by the Holy Spirit and
we are the channels through which almighty God speaks kindness to those we live with
those who are friends strangers wherever it might be kindness kindness changes everything
now I wonder if I were to ask people who know you best what quality are you best known for
in your neighborhood what quality are you best known for at work or at school or wherever you are
I wonder what they would say what quality would they say now God's very clear what he wants
people to say about you Philippians 4 verse 5 your kindness should be known to all God wants you to
have a reputation for kindness I want if I were to go to your neighborhood or go to your work and say
who's the kindest person in your office who's the kindest person in your neighborhood oh it's that
guy he's the kindest guy I know she is the kindest woman I know I want you to be a man of kindness
a woman of kindness I want you to be famous for your kindness that would be a good reputation
to have first Corinthians 16:14 says everything you do must be done
with love now what's the relationship between love and kindness kindness is love in action
that's what kindness is kindness is just love in action kindness is not an emotion
kindness is not a feeling kindness is not something you feel towards someone kindness is
something you do towards someone it is an activity is an event it is an action kindness is love in
action you learning to be kind is a big deal because God is kind everything you have in your
life you owe to the kindness of God and in a rude world where people are bad mannered and uncivil
and more polarized than ever before to be kind is actually to be counter culture being religious
doesn't make you nice being religious doesn't make you kind you could go to church all your
life and be a miserable person with other people I some of the most unkind people I know were church
attenders being a religious person doesn't make you kind being like Christ makes you kind God says
I will bless your life the more kind you are as a man as a woman the kinder you are God says you
be a blessing to other people I'm going to bless your life look at this verse Proverbs 11 verse 17
your own soul the bible says your own soul is nourished when you're kind when you do an act of
kindness remember it's not an emotion something you do for somebody you do an act of kindness
nobody else may even see it nobody else may even know it but God sees it and he says I'm going to
make sure you get blessed for that your own soul will be nourished Proverbs 3:27 and 28
never walk away from someone who deserves your help your hand is God's hand for that person
never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now Proverbs 19:17
being kind to the people in need is like lending to the Lord and he will repay you for the kindness
you have shown anytime you help anybody else in pain God says you're being kind and that's
like a loan to me God says he said you're not going to be in my I'm not going to be in your
debt you're going to be in mine I will make sure you were repaid for your kindness why
do we be kind because God has been kind to us God saved you through faith as an act of his kindness
being saved is a gift from God everything I have is because of God's kindness so I certainly should
show kindness to everybody else it's so easy today to get involved in the unkind things to be angry
it's so easy to be divisive in this world there's division in families there's division in marriages
there's division in friendships there's division in the community division in the city division in
the nation and it's so easy to get involved in being unkind talking bad about people who aren't
in the room stabbing people in the back being angry or annoyed just being unkind in general
but God wants to show us that his loving kindness is
in us when we express loving kindness into our world we're inviting God into our world
we're literally releasing the spirit of God into our world you're releasing Jesus into
your world he's walking around through you and when you do that expect power to begin to move
be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle
dear family we seldom if ever know what's going on in the lives of those around us
we seldom ever know what others are up against what others are struggling with
what hurts and fears and shames and insecurities others are facing
what others are dealing with and being overwhelmed by behind closed doors
anxious overburdened fearful weary and heavy-laden
be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle
simple kindness
it's an increasingly lost art in our world
but it's an art our world needs now more than ever
and as my old coach said the angels in heaven aren't rejoicing over who wins and who loses
their battle but over who was modeling their lives after Jesus Christ threw out it all
so would that we dear family be among those who give the angels cause for celebration
would that we dear family be among those who look upon all others with compassion
would that we dear family be among those who labor in kindness daily
trusting as we do that our Lord and savior was right that while the laborers of kindness may
be few the harvest can be plentiful yes in a world where everyone we meet is fighting a great battle
our willingness to meet others at midfield with a little kindness
with a little kindness like that could begin to turn the world upside down
and start the angels rejoicing