Inspiration

Colossians 3: 12-14

Kindness is a practical expression of love. When you are a kind and loving person, the first place it shows is in your family and then in the church. Do not forget to entertain strangers because you sometimes entertain angels just like Abraham did when he entertained three strangers (Hebrews 13: 1-3). Afterwards, God gave the exact time his child would be born.

Abraham connected with his destiny through kindness and barrenness was terminated from his and Sarah’s lives. He did not know it was God and angels when he compelled them to stop to rest. Afterwards, God felt He had to intimate him about His plans of going to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18). Many people have missed out on opportunities to encounter God when they did not show kindness because they felt the people were undeserving. Our attitudes would be different if we realise that God could show up in the form of a human being in need.

Love is action. The measure of love is sacrifice. God came to the earth in human form and laid down His life for us. It is time to show God’s kind of love. (John 3:16; 1 John 3: 16-18). Kindness is one of the characteristics of a true Christian. Material blessings are not the greatest proofs of showing a blessed person because even crooks have great material wealth. Yes, God blesses us when we obey Him but the distinguishing factor between Christians and unbelievers is the quality of their character. Without God, you are incapable of loving unconditionally (Romans 5:5). Many of us have suffered painful experiences so that all we have to give is pain. Thus, cycles of oppression are created because we feel others have to go through the same pain we have had to endure. When you become a Christian, God takes you out of such destructive cycles of cruelty, self-centredness and harshness. If you do not have the excellent qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5-10, your life will not be different from when you were an unbeliever. You cannot love and fail.

When you are kind, you have a benevolent disposition; you are humane, gentle, mild and sensitive to other people’s feelings. Any fool can criticise but it takes a mature person to try to understand why a person is acting in a particular way. When you put yourself in another person’s position, you will be less critical. A lot of the time, the people who hurt us do so because they are hurting. Remember, hurting people, hurt people. Repaying them with more hurt makes the situation worse. What they need is healing, encouragement and understanding. When Jesus was being crucified, He didn’t ask that the people should be punished; instead He asked God to forgive them. Rise beyond the pain, hatred and disappointment. Shine God’s love into people’s lives so that He has the opportunity to change your life, the lives of the recipients of your love and by extension, our world. Moral and character superiority distinguish a Christian. Don’t show kindness only to those you feel deserve it (Matthew 5: 38- 48). This week, be sensitive! Put yourself in other people’s shoes and try to provide some comfort.


From Sam Adeyemi