July 2012

Ephesians 5:1:
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.

To be a follower of God is to imitate, or pattern ourselves after, His nature. God enables His born-again children to imitate His nature, showing it in our lives so that others may see and know Him. God’s Word clearly expresses that kindness is a part of His loving nature.

Jeremiah 9:24:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Psalms 103:4:
Who [the Lord] redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

When God sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us and give us life more abundant, God’s kindness was manifested toward us.

Titus 3:4:
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.

Ephesians 2:7:
That in the ages to come he [God] might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

In response to God’s kind nature toward us, we can show His kindness to others.

Ephesians 4:32:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Each time we show God’s kindness to others, we show forth God’s loving nature. To be kind means to be useful, beneficial, gentle, and good. Kindness can be shown in kind words, kind acts, and even kind looks. It is actively doing good in spite of ingratitude. Kindness is in our power to give, even in the face of unthankfulness.

Luke 6:32,35,36:
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Patterning ourselves after our Father’s example, we are kind to the unthankful as well as to the thankful. That means we show forth kindness without thought of a return.

The following verse speaks of the goodness of God. “Goodness” is translated from the same Greek word as “kindness” in Ephesians 2:7 and Titus 3:4.

Romans 2:4:
...despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance [a change for the better]?

It’s God’s kindness that encourages people to have a change of heart; therefore, we show forth kindness even in the face of ingratitude. Often the unthankful have the greatest need for kindness, and we are equipped to show them this good and gentle nature of God. Kindness can be the convincing evidence of God’s love. So let’s freely show His kindness!

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