2026-09-04
Good morning, Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit directs me to write about kindness. It is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate toward others. A kind person helps others, shows warmth, and does good deeds without expecting a reward. I was blessed enough to be married to one of the kindest people I have ever met for 44 years. Peter combined wisdom with unselfishness, a winning trait to have. His kindness was genuine and he taught me a lot about how to practice it.
Kindness is one of those gifts of the Holy Spirit that our Lord wants us to demonstrate in our daily lives. GA 5: 22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (forbearance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility (gentleness), and self-control. Against such things as these there is no law.” The very fact that the Holy Spirit wants us to have these gifts in our daily lives tells us that they reflect God’s own character. PS 145: 17-18, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, who call on Him in truth.” In other words, He is filled with kindness. Christ’s death on the cross is the greatest kindness we have been shown. This sacrificial act of quintessential unselfishness is what the Father has given us—the opportunity of eternal forgiveness, justification, and eternal salvation! This comes to us by means of Christ’s death on the cross. And it certainly wasn’t easy for the Father to watch the Son, being disrespected, dishonored, suffering and dying-- a most painful physical death. It was a time of temporary separation between the Father and the Son that had to be agonizing to say the least! God’s judgment against those who judge others, which is basically usurping God’s right to judge, is always based on truth and applied in fairness. RO 2: 3-4 asks these questions, “Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Biblically, the difference
between forbearance and patience is that patience deals with circumstances and forbearance deals with people and offenses. Patience is a virtue of steadfastness and endurance through hard times. Forbearance is focused on self-control and holding back anger when you are provoked by people). God was patient as He saw the Son suffer and practiced forbearance when He held back His anger in the face of human sinfulness.
We are directed to show kindness in speech. PR 16: 24, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” EPH 4: 29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that may benefit those who listen.” We should consider these words, which express God’s will in our being kind to strangers and enemies. MT 25: 35, [Christ’s words], “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in.” RO 12: 13, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Kindness as a daily practice is important. PR 21: 21, “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” PHIL 2: 3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, to looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” Each of these verses on kindness give us a rounded picture of what it is kindness and wisdom on how to practice it in our lives.
Let me share a very old memory I have from my childhood. During and right after WWII, we lived on an Army base. People used to pass by our home who were needy but not looking for a chance to commit a crime to get way they needed. We had a “victory garden” in the back of our billet as many people did in those days. We had extra food from it that we shared with some of those needy people. In addition, friends who were devastated by losing loved ones (“gold star” families) were invited to come in and share what was on our table. I have friends even now who showed me so much kindness that even if I was keeping score, which I’m not, it would take me the rest of my life to repay the kindness they have shown me.
PRAYER: O Dearest Lord, You have told us, in EPH 4: 32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” The very fact that we have the hope of the Resurrection is a key reason to show kindness to one another. Our fleshly temptation to get angry and hold grudges arises when we have disagreements. This applies to individuals, communities, and nations. Often that important hope is forgotten in the heat of emotion. Help us, Dearest Father, to have the wisdom and strength to overcome the flesh and live in the Spirit. You have told us that the flesh and the Spirit are opposites [GA 5: 16-17]. It is with eternal thanksgiving and praise that we make this appeal, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am commanded to write about righteous parenting. We do learn from others, if we are wise and godly in our selection of who our teachers are. I’ve been blessed with wonderful friends over the years, some who have managed to be good, kind, and wise parents despite great challenges and temptations. 1 JN 3: 18, ”Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Needless to say, there are generational differences, but God’s words apply forever. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace be with You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2026. All Rights Reserved.
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