Kindness
by Amanda Schueweiler
Kindness- it seems so elementary! If any of you have siblings, you’ve probably heard your parents say, “be kind to them”!
We need Christ to truly be kind. And it takes strength to be kind. Kindness when all is well can seem easier. When conflicts arise, mean people impact us, or injustice is done and it pains us to the core, kindness becomes a work of the Holy Spirit in a whole new way. Have you ever said, “I will never…”? I will never be hurt like that again, I will never let someone hurt me the way someone hurt another? It’s a sure sign that kindness is being limited in your life.
Corrie Ten Boom after World War II told the Lord, “I don’t ever want to go to Germany”. God asked her to go back. Her response… Not my will but yours be done. She went back to Germany. In preaching forgiveness, a former guard came up to her… do you forgive me, I know Christ has, but do you? She, in that moment, was acting in the image of Christ… All of a sudden the thief on the cross, who was reviling, had a turn of heart, he’s nailed through, beaten and mocked. In that turn of heart he said Lord remember me when you come into the kingdom of heaven and immediately what comes out of Jesus is the law of kindness. This law of kindness that is the heart of God to all men.
Psalm 145:8-The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Character of God and the goodness of God is that He is kind to the unthankful and unholy. While we were not even seeking him, he died for us. It was all mercy that drew us to him and his message of salvation.
Prov.31- In context of the church of Jesus Christ. 26- She opens mouth with wisdom with the law of kindness. Not an occasional word or dead, it flows from her. It’s not altered by circumstance or opinion.
Jeremiah 31:33- “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
This is the covenant…It’s not within you to be kind. All of it is conditional, and so is yours. God has to come down and write it down– anew– in our minds by his Holy Spirit. We are given the ability to be kind.
How many of us can have something nasty said to us, and we do not say something nasty back? God will give us the power that only God can give us. It takes strength of character, something of God in us. It’s the weak man or woman who snaps back. Prov 25:28- Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Luke 6:35- Love your enemy’s, do good… and your reward should be great. It’s a hard thing to do! In the end days-People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. Keeping to kindness is one of the hardest battles in your life. The kind hand of God is still outstretched to a sinful generation. God says I’ll make my spirit known to you. “An unkind spirit will separate you from what your life and testimony could have been. It will leave only a portion of what Christ wants to do through you”. (Carter Conlon)
The fruits of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Kindness in the face of conflict:
Matthew 5:9 Says blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Romans 12:18- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone
When people are unkind, Jesus said, when they speak evil about you, when you are called names, you need to rejoice in that day because you have a great reward ahead of you because you are manifesting the love of God.
According to a book called The Young Peace Maker by Corlette Sande, there are three ways that people deal with conflict: escape, work it out, or attack.
Escape: Flight/Peace-Faking
Run away (run away from the reality of the conflict, avoid, not look at each other, ghost), blame game (place responsibility for conflict on someone else. escape consequences), deny (pretend a conflict doesn’t exist)
Work it out: Appropriate Response
Overlook
Talk, get help to know what you should say- this is called coaching,
Get help to talk together- this is called mediation,
Get help to decide- this is called arbitration. This could be a parent, teacher, school administrator, or pastor.
Attack: Fight/Peace-Breaking
Put downs (often anger is seen- response is harsh and cruel words),
Gossip (talking behind others backs),
Fight (physical).
5 A’s
Admit- I’m it. I broke the bond that’s tightly fit
Apologize-Tell no lies. I hurt you, I recognize.
Accept- the consequence
Ask- for forgiveness
Alter- alter your choices in the future
It sounds like:
I admit I was wrong when….
I’m sorry for…
I understand why….
Will you please forgive me?
With God’s help, next time I will…
If you have a willingness, God will work something in you. It’s a law of life, of freedom, of kindness, and all things like him. Expect the touch of God, believe him to give you the strength to live a life of forgiveness, kindness and to be made in the image of Him.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
