TODAY’S VERSE:

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

What does it mean to “be kind”? Is it to keep a smile on your face, say nice things to people, or remember everyone’s b-day? These may be considered kind actions, but you will see that there’s a lot more to kindness than that. Let’s take a look at some definitions and what the Bible tells us true kindness looks like. Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, considerate.
Now, let’s see what all of those words mean:

- Friendly: pleasant, not hostile, treating others as friends.

Proverbs 17:17a A friend loves at all times,

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

- Generous: ready to give more (ie time, money) than is necessary or expected .

Luke 6:38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

- Considerate: Careful not to inconvenience or hurt others, thoughtful.

Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Being kind looks a lot like loving others, which includes putting the needs of others ahead of our own, huh?

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others

It seems impossible for us to always treat others this way. How can we be kind to everyone, including those who are unkind to us or those we love? The Bible tells us that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Why is this important to know? Well, it means that when we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our days, instead of our flesh, He makes it possible to treat others with the kindness God commands.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Since kindness is a manifestation of God, Himself, not the human flesh, we must live in His power in order to be kind. How do we live in His power? We read our Bibles and pray, every day. We need to pray, asking Him to show us how to be kind and to help us to be kind to others.

Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

When we do this, we become His righteous ambassadors as people see God’s kindness through us!