Kindness

Maya Angelou famously observed, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

In our secularized, chaotic, divisive culture, one of the most distinctive features of the Christian faith should be the kindness with which we treat others.

Such kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, resulting from the Holy Spirit’s work in and through our lives. The only way to sustain kindness in unkind times is to live in submission to His power and purpose. 

The more we stay in touch with the Spirit in prayer, Bible study, worship, and surrendered faithfulness, the more He will manifest Himself through us.

When we treat others with the grace we have received, our kindness draws them to our Lord.

Expansive, Encompassing Generosity

In Galatians 5:22, "kindness" translates chrestos, which means "goodness, kindness, generosity toward all people, no matter what they have done to us." 

God graciously manifests such kindness toward us despite all our sins.

Scripture teaches that "when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4–5). 

God saved us “so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).

Now our Father calls us to choose kindness with others, no matter what they do to us: "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:17–18).

Lewis Smedes' excellent book, Forgive and Forget, explains what forgiveness is and what it is not. 

Forgiveness is not excusing, or forgetting, or explaining away. 

To forgive is to pardon—to refuse to punish, even though you could, as a governor pardons a convicted criminal. 

To forgive is to release the person from the punishment they deserve.

Let God be the judge while you offer kindness. 

If you'll make this choice, the Spirit will give you the kindness you need.

Apply the lesson

• How do you define kindness? Offer examples of kindness given or received from your last week.
• Do you actively look to be kind to others? Why or why not?
• Why is kindness one quality of a civil person? Put another way: How does kindness cause an uncivil person to react?
• When last did your act of kindness draw someone to God?
• Pray that God would offer you opportunities to be kind to others this week—and especially to those in your life with whom it may be difficult to be kind.