Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
In this series we studied Galatians 3, 4, and 5. We finally got to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are going through all the fruit of the Spirit. Today we will look at “kindness in action.”
(Galatians 5:22,23 The Passion Translation)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Noah Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) defines the word kind as: disposed to do good to others; to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; actions that proceed from goodness or tenderness of heart. The same dictionary defines the word kindness as: good will; benevolence; a disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; kindness accompanies love (Acts 28). I like to use the old dictionary (1828) because it often quoted or referenced the Bible, as was the case in this example.
2. Kindness in action is a fruit of God’s Spirit and an expression of God’s love.
a) The Holy Spirit will lead you to have empathy towards others to the point where you truly connect with them and their plight. Further, the Holy Spirit will then lead you to do things to help others in their time(s) of need, simply because you love them.
b) God’s love is always one-sided. Love does not consider the actions of others towards you before initiating action towards them. You seek to BE a blessing simply because the love of God fills your heart.
c) God is love and all the fruit of God’s Spirit emanate from love. When you put kindness in action, you seek to help others and make them happy, simply because you want to; because the love of God fills your heart. You are not doing it because they earned it or deserve it. You are treating them the way God treats you — He is good to you because He loves you, not because of your performance.
3. Godly kindness is “a disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others.” When you are led by the Holy Spirit to be kind you go out of your way to BE a blessing to others because you want to. You enjoy it. You get true satisfaction of our BEING a blessing to others, even when they did nothing to earn or deserve your actions towards them.
Missions work is a great example of this. My wife and I go on Missions trips. We get Godly satisfaction from BEING a blessing to others. We seek to express the love of God in acts of kindness and we don’t do it to get anything back from the people God is using us to BE a blessing to. We do it because we are led of God to do it. We do it because it is an expression of God’s love towards others. We do it because God is kind, and since He lives in us, we are supposed to be kind as well.
4. The Apostle Paul said, “Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” (Eph 4:32). A person who is kind is constantly looking for ways to be a blessing to others. They are literally seeking for opportunities to do good. They get excited when an opportunity presents itself for them to meet the needs of another. What kind of testimony would the church have if a majority of Christians really walked in kindness? If we walked in the love of God to the point to where we were literally looking for ways to BE a blessing to others every day? I can tell you that there is a great need for kindness today. Especially in the current charged political climate of the United States. Instead of fighting each other because of political differences, it’s time for us to be kind to one another.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I declare that I am disposed to do good to others. I seek to make others happy. I seek to be a blessing and not a burden. I seek to build others up and I never tear them down. And I am NOT motivated by their actions towards me. I am not seeking to do good towards them because they did good to me. I do this simply because I love others. You love me and You bless me by grace. So I do the same for others. I love them and seek to bless them by grace; unearned, unmerited and undeserved. I enter this day with my heart attuned to Your heart. I am listening for Your leading. Lead me to those You want to bless and I declare that I will be channel through which Your love will flow. I am a conduit of Your love and Your light in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
