Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing that you like to wear or a favorite season of clothing? I do. I love winter clothes, especially fleece pullovers, oversized sweats and hoodies. I’d wear them year round if I could.
Paul told the Colossian church that as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved they were to put on kindness; in other words wear kindness like a garment. He was talking to Christians today as well. The prophet Micah said, He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 ESV) Micah goes beyond the idea of merely doing kindness; he said we are to LOVE kindness. So it seems that we are supposed to wear kindness and love wearing it.
Kindness in defined in Colossians as usefulness, morally excellent in character and demeanor, gentleness and goodness. It appears that kindness is something that we are not supposed to take off; it should be a portion of our DNA as Christians, our character and demeanor.
Christians receive their DNA from God. David wrote, The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. (Psalm 145:17 ESV) And Jesus gave us this command, But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35 ESV) God even makes the sun to shine on the evil and the good and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). In turn we are to be kind to everyone not just the people we like or love. We are to be kind to the customer service rep who gets our order wrong, to telemarketers, to those who are not kind to us, to people who wrong us, to people who hate us or would harm us or our loved ones, and those who persecute us for our Christian faith.
The foundation for our showing kindness is the kindness God has shown to us. It was the riches of God’s kindness toward us that led us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Paul wrote to Titus, But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us . . . by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:4-6 ESV) God shows his severity toward those who have fallen, but his kindness toward those who believe provided they continue in his kindness (Romans 11:22). In the age to come God will continue to show us the riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:7).
Kindness is a fruit that is produced by those who are walking by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It has its rewards as well. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.(Proverbs 21:21 ESV) A man who is kind is a benefit to himself (Proverbs 11:17) and gives proof that he walks in love (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Are you a kind person? Does your kindness display the kindness of God?
Scriptures for meditation:
Ephesians 4:32
2 Timothy 2:24