THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 62 )
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3360
THE GLORY OF GOD ( PART 62 )
From Glory to Glory ( Study #41)
Walking By The Spirit #11
The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness #2
According to the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, the Greek word translated kindness here is “the divine kindness out of which God acts toward humankind. It is what the Old Testament means when it declares that ‘God is good,’
Believers should show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward them.” Basically it means “doing thoughtful deeds to others.”
Throughout the Bible, two other qualities are often associated with kindness: love and mercy. Peter wrote of adding love to “brotherly kindness” (2 Peter 1:7), while Paul wrote about putting on “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:13).
Ephesians 4:32 states: “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Verse 31 reveals the implied opposite: “Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking.” These are clearly traits God does not want in His chosen people!
Biblical examples of godly kindness abound in the scriptures:
1. God expressed kindness when He provided for Elijah and the widow of Zarephath during a drought—and He showed more kindness later when He raised the widow’s only son from the dead (1 Kings 17:8-24).
2. When Sarah exiled Hagar and Ishmael, God gave the outcasts kindness in the form of water and hope (Genesis 21:9-21).
3. On multiple occasions, kindness induced Jesus to stop what He was doing and help others in need (Mark 6:34; Mark 7:29; Mark 10:46-52). And kindness leads the Good Shepherd to rescue us when we stray (Luke 15:3-7). In kindness He “gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young” (Isaiah 40:11).
Abba Father, kindness is not a matter of good intentions. It is a fruit of the Spirit and not from our do-good-feel-good sentiments.
In other words, it must be born of the Spirit and not of the humanistic tendency of the flesh to glorify itself with " good works " for all to see.
Kindness is not a selfish attempt to get something for ourselves. It is a show of mercy and love to other human beings with no thought of reward. May we all develop the same type of love and kindness God has for us.
