Being Like Him - a 40 Day Lenten Devotionalਨਮੂਨਾ

Kindness

When Jesus was agonizing on the Cross with pain, he was still thinking and acting kindly. He continued to talk to God, He spoke to His neighbor and to His disciple, John about his mother. He was concerned about people all around him and showed His attribute of kindness in His words and actions.

He cared for His grieving mother whose pain He could feel. He looked with kindness at His disciple who denied Him thrice on the night of His arrest. He even cared for a thief who showed a heart of repentance. His heart of kindness is beyond human comprehension. This kindness is extraordinary and cannot be achieved by our own efforts. We often reciprocate by the measure of kindness we receive. If my neighbor is not kind to me, and if my colleague is not kind to me, my tendency is to reciprocate that kindness shown. But the way Jesus reciprocated looks humanly impossible. Yes, it is humanly impossible, but possible with God!

Mrs. Gladys Staines, the wife of Australian missionary Mr. Graham Staines, who worked in interior Orissa among leprosy patients, was asked by a newspaper reporter about what she felt about the ones who burnt her husband and two small boys alive. Her response startled everyone. She said, “I’m upset, but I am not angry with the one who did this. I have forgiven those who did this.” Humanly, this is impossible! But the attribute of her Master to be kind even in his deepest agony was so well displayed by the power of the Holy Spirit who resides in her.

To be like Him calls us to respond in kindness. This is one way of allowing God to work on our behalf as He will bring the needed repentance and justice when we respond as Jesus did. In our homes, can we start using kind words to our spouse and children? Can we start responding in kindness to those who are unkind to us? Maybe send them an appreciation note or start interceding for the family of the person who has hurt us.

Gladys Staines would not have been able to do what she did if she was not filled with the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is kindness and the fruit matures in time when we allow God to continually work in us.

Prayer

Lord who is kind and merciful, let Your kindness flow through me to others who need to experience it today. May Your nature become more visible in me through the acts of kindness that You enable me to do today. In Jesus name, Amen