Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:4-7
Continuing the series on love, we study kindness which is the second characteristic of love. I ask...How kind are you? Is your kindness something that comes from within or is it superficial - something to be turned on or off depending on the company that you are in or the person you desire to impress?
Do you show kindness without partiality to the deserving and undeserving alike? Love is indiscriminate. The very nature of love means that it is given unconditionally. As we desire to walk in higher degrees of love let's determine to be kinder people.
This world is full of mean people. Mean and nasty attitudes are displayed unprovoked in our society. I've learned not to take it personally when someone is mean to me. I attribute their meanness to a state of unfulfilled desires or sensual passions. I've come to understand that a person can only give what is inside of them. Therefore, their attitudes are a reflection of how they feel, not something that I've done.
Given that Christ dwells in us (in the Person of the Holy Spirit) and He is the epitome of love - our kindness to one another, including our enemies, should be effortless if we are living yielded lives. I have discovered that as I allow Christ to dwell more richly in me, it is difficult for me to the person that I used to be. It has become easier for me to overlook an offense and walk in love. I am grateful for this. Remember love covers a multitude of sins
I encourage each of you this week to show kindness to people as you encounter them - especially those of the household of faith. It shouldn't require a great deal of effort on your part, all you have to do is allow the Christ that is in you to shine.
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