How long has it been since you were surprised by an unexpected random act of kindness -- and it is especially cool when it is done by a stranger?
This is the way I understand how kindness works so be patient with me.
#1. God puts LOVE in your heart.
#2. God puts someone in front of you with a NEED.
#3. God moves you with COMPASSION to express the LOVE in your heart.
#4. The expression of the LOVE in your heart is..... KINDNESS.
#5. True KINDNESS cannot be REPAID.... it is not motivated by selfishness.
On Sunday morning’s, I am preaching a series on 1 Corinthians 13. You probably recognize it by its nickname, “The Love Chapter”.
It is commonly read at weddings because it very clearly spells out the giving, selfless love of God, flowing into the new family. This Sunday's sermon is on KINDNESS.
Kindness is LOVE In action. It is like the VERB of love.
I know you have LOVE in your heart because you are KIND.
When the Bible uses the word kindness,
it means you look at other people in light of what God is doing in the world.
They are God's creation and He loves them.
The question is, "What is He doing in their lives?"
How can I encourage what God is doing in their lives?
One of my favorite stories is about a new pastor's ordination service.
In almost every church, in order to become a pastor,
you have to be tested on your theology.
You have to be examined to make sure that you're theologically sound.
Many churches put their pastoral candidates in front of seasoned ministers so they can ask as many theological questions as they want, until they're satisfied that the candidate is Biblically sound.
There's one old pastor who was famous for asking the same question for 35 years. He always says to the pastoral candidate, "Will you look out the window?"
The pastoral candidate does.
"Tell me when you see a person out the window."
"I see one."
"Do you know that person?"
"No, sir, I don't."
"Good. Describe that person's theology."
He has found that the answers tend to fall in one of two categories. Either they say (a) "That person is a sinner in need of the saving power of God in Jesus Christ," or they say, (b) "Whether that person knows it or not, that person is a child of God, embraced by the love of God, surrounded by the grace of God."
The old minister's conclusion is, "Technically both of those answers are correct, but it has been my experience that the ministers who give the second answer make the better ministers because they see people not just as they are, but as they will be in the future of God."
Kindness is the refusal to see people only in the present tense, but to see them in light of what God is doing to recreate their lives.
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32
"Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you."
Proverbs 11:17
