Heart of CompassionSample

Clothed with Kindness

Have you seen the T-shirts that are all about kindness today? Maybe you have one! They have phrases like, “It’s cool to be kind,” “Kindness is contagious,” and “Spread kindness like confetti.” If one of the words in Colossians 3:12 is trending, it’s kindness.

In the classroom and maybe in our homes and churches, too, we might hear the phrase “Be kind.” It’s something that everybody knows we should do, but it can be hard to practice. Otherwise, people wouldn’t have to keep reminding us! That’s why Paul was letting his friends in Colossae know that people really do have to choose to put on kindness.

But the kindness we must choose isn’t just any kindness: It’s the kindness we see first in God.

We see a perfect picture of this kindness in Titus chapter 3. Throughout the New Testament, Paul reminded lots of his friends in different cities and countries what it looks like to be a Christian. In his letter to Titus, Paul asked Titus to remind the people in the church to do what’s right by remembering what God’s kindness did in their lives. Let’s read it: “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.”

So, in this one sentence, we see that God’s kindness means that He saved us not because of who we are but because of who He is. We couldn’t do anything to save ourselves. But because God is kind, He took the first step.

And by “saving us,” Paul was talking about God sending Jesus to live on this earth as a human, die for our sins, and then come back to life so that He defeated death and offered us a way to live with Him forever.

That is way more powerful than a T-shirt saying, “Kindness is cool.” This type of kindness is about life and death.

Think about the people in your life who really need some kindness: Maybe they have hurt you or maybe they struggle with anger or maybe you’re not really sure what their struggles are, except that they’re not kind to you. Now think about the kindness of God and remember that He showed each of us kindness even before we could understand what was happening. How can you give His kindness away today?

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

© 2023 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved.

Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.