Try A Little Kindness

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

In my “Big Book of Sermon Illustrations,” the following story is under the category of “KINDNESS:” 

Two men going opposite directions on a narrow mountain trail met each other head on. With a steep cliff on one side and sheer rock on the other, they were unable to pass. The harder they tried to squeeze past one another the more frustrated they became. The situation seemed hopeless until one of them, without saying a word, simply laid down on the trail, allowing the other man to walk over him. 

That’s the idea behind biblical kindness. It doesn't mind getting walked on if it is to the benefit of someone else. It’s the very essence of the Greek word translated “kind” in 1 Corinthians 13.4 — “useful,” “serving,” or “gracious.”

Did you know that God has shown kindness to the world? Sure enough! He did so in providing salvation to mankind lost in sin. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” [Titus 3.3-5]. 

When Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you…for [it] is easy,” the word translated “easy” is the same word used in 1 Corinthians 13.4 “…love is kind…”

As a Christ follower, you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. You are saved, washed, renewed by the Holy Spirit. So, be anxious to show kindness to others. We live in a world that desperately needs kind people. Won’t you be one of them!

Love is patient, love is kind…  1 Corinthians 13.4