..to you, in you, through you, and in me too.
Treating others as one really wants to be treated.. it can intentionally happen.
Want to be challenged today in something good? Would your best friends call you tenderhearted, or considerate of others, or selfless, or compassionate, or kind? Let some kind thoughts you get wisely turn into kind deeds, believer. If you don’t get any, then ask for some? Many people from all walks of life turn their kind thoughts into kind deeds, so how much more should we do that who follow and want to represent the Lord well. Sure, and sometimes we can just make the time for this. I dare ya to.
Can I tell you how or when? Nope, can any mere human guide you like that. Pray about it.
“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works..” Hebrews 10:24
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, it was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags when another nice shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” — Leslie Wagner, Peel, Arkansas
When my friend and I were injured in a car accident, a family from out of state stopped to help. Seeing we were hurt, they drove us to the hospital and stayed there until we were released. They then took us home, got us food, and made sure we were settled in. Amazingly, they interrupted their vacation to help us. — Cindy Earls, Ada, Oklahoma
Was I kind as a youngster? Absolutely not. In fact I was unkind. I got into a lot of fights at school and didn’t care sometimes. Yes I started those fights when I didn’t like how someone was talking disrespectful of my friends.
There was so much chaos in my home. I kind of live scared of the future to. I would wonder if my family would be together in the next week or in the next month, or would my parents be split up. There were a lot of fights at home and at school. It was like a warzone, because there was war in my heart instead of kindness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I have no excuses — it was my fault. The fights at school kept happening and I would get so guilty. I wasn’t kind, but I hungered for some kindness and agape love that only Jesus could give. I needed Him so, but religion wasn’t helping me to find him. Yes, I had a real drug problem from the time I was young — my parents drug me to a dead church every Sunday and then fought all the way home. It wasn’t helping anyone to get to know the One who is very kind and could save my troubled soul. Jesus is the one that can cleanse us and make us kind like He is. When I was 18 my surfer friend Randy Ziglar in Dana Point told me in a convincing way about Christ and then showed me some Scriptures that were even more convicting, so I turned, trusted Jesus and prayed with Randy to receive Jesus inside (See John 1:12:13 & 3:3). Guess what He showed up and kindly forgave me.
It’s true believer, the best way to NOT go backwards is to aggressively (in the positive way) go forwards spiritually. Jesus is God the Father's way for you.
Yes indeed, the best way to NOT lose ground spiritually while here is to by faith.. gain ground spiritually (unto the glory of the Lord--we live to enjoy and please Him).
But how? Well, we pray daily believing, we magnify Jesus where we go, and we boldly proclaim the Gospel and His Church advances forward.
Can I say it again? Sure, the best way to NOT to digress spiritually is to biblically progress spiritually. Yes, in the Word. I’m talking about grow up into full maturity.
The best way today and every day to combat error spreading in our world before people are deceived and destroy are lives.. is to live in truth and to teach or preach the truth of the Bible. How? Do so in the power of His Spirit. Why have your words (or seeds of faith) always fall on deaf ears and rock-hard-ground? The best way to not pile up sins to the moon and beyond, or to become cold-blooded, bitter, unkind, hardhearted, hopeless, seared in conscience or even mean-spirited.. is to humbly receive His forgiveness, and the grace to forgive other mean people, and act with kindness starting at home by praying for people in need!
So what does it mean to cling to what is good (Romans 12:9)?
We don’t work for salvation, but we can work from salvation. No pressure at all. What does it mean that good works are the result of salvation?
I was driving cross-country to start a new job. What began as a fun adventure turned into a nightmare when I realized I had run through most of my money and still had a ways to go. I pulled over and let the tears flow. That’s when I noticed the unopened farewell card my neighbor had shoved in my hand as I left. I pulled the card out of the envelope, and $100 dropped out — just enough to get me through the remainder of my trip. Later, I asked my neighbor why she had enclosed the money. She said, “I had a feeling it would help.” — Nadine Chandler, Winthrop, Massachusetts
My neighbors, Jay and Treva, have been the best since we moved in. When my husband got brain cancer, they helped with yard work and snow removal. When Jim passed away, they were always helping me with anything they could. Meals, yard work, snow removal, putting my trash can away when I would forget. They still continue to care for me and if they don’t see me outside for a while they text to make sure I am alright, and not down or anything. I know I can always count on them to be there for me no matter what happens! — Shelly Golay, Casper, Wyoming
While going through a divorce, my mother fretted over her new worries: no income, the same bills, and no way to afford groceries. It was around this time that she started finding boxes of food outside our door every morning. This went on for months until she was able to land a job. We never did find out who left the groceries, but they truly saved our lives. — Jamie Boleyn, Emmett, Idaho
What does it mean to be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)?
What does it mean to call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)?
What does the Bible say about good versus evil?
Children were playing at the recreation area of an IKEA store when my five-year-old granddaughter motioned for a small boy to stop. She knelt down before him and retied his flopping shoelaces — she had only just learned to tie her own. No words were spoken, but after she finished, both smiled shyly, then turned to race off in different directions. — Sheela Mayes, Olla, Louisiana
When my husband died unexpectedly, a coworker took me under her wing. Every week for an entire year, she would send me a card, saying “Just Thinking of You” or “Hang in There.” — Jerilynn Collette, Burnsville, Minnesota
One evening, I left a restaurant just ahead of a woman assisting her elderly mom. I approached the curb and paused to see if my arthritic knees could climb it. To my right appeared an arm to assist. It was that of the elderly mom. My heart was so touched. — Donna Moerie, Goldsboro, North Carolina
What does it mean to do good unto all men in Galatians 6:10?
Sup with that? Being kind verses total depravity — is it biblical?
How important is Christian conduct to how the unbelieving world sees Christ?
I saw a dress in a consignment shop that I knew my granddaughter would love. But money was tight, so I asked the store owner if she could hold it for me. “May I buy the dress for you?” asked another customer. “Thank you, but I can’t accept such a gracious gift,” I said. Then she told me why it was so important for her to help me. She’d been homeless for three years, she said, and had it not been for the kindness of strangers, she would not have been able to survive. “I’m no longer homeless, and my situation has improved,” she said. “I promised myself that I would repay the kindness so many had shown me.” She paid for the dress, and the only payment she would accept in return was a heartfelt hug. — Stacy Lee, Columbia, Maryland
The Bible says, “Continue in brotherly love. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. Marriage should be honored by all..” Hebrews 13:1–3 #TkxRDcom
In a world obsessed with ‘getting my own way’, selfless kindness seeks the good of others, to help and build them up.
God in the book of Proverbs 11:17 clearly tells us that a man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.” Proverbs 11:17 tlb
“The merciful and generous man benefits his soul for his behavior returns to bless him, but the cruel and callous man does himself harm.” Proverbs 11:17 amp
Lord — thank you for revealing your loving kindness to us on the Cross of Calvary and in your Holy Word, the Bible. Please inspire us in an ongoing way to walk with You in a kind and compassionate way towards others, especially when they aren’t kind back to us. That’s always challenging. Forgive us believers for those times when we did just what came naturally to us instead of supernaturally. We don’t want to walk according to our fleshly nature, but according to your kind Spirit and Word. Help us to shine as bright lights of your pure love to a world that’s gone astray and is dying without kindness.
“I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” — Richard Baxter, a kind pastor
Think about it Christian, you and I only get to minister or preach today! We have right now, this moment. Let the dead religious people do what they want and how they want, but we can serve and witness like Christ did.
If this very day is our one last chance to help others in the areas that are most important and in other areas too, would we minister, serve or preach the gospel differently than we have been? I mean with more grace, understanding, kindness and agape love?
What if we listened, ministered, taught or preached the word as if our life depended on it, as if we were to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment Seat immediately afterward to give an account of what and how we did what we did?
What if we ministered and pleaded with sinners and passionately pleaded the case for simple turning and trusting Christ — I mean clearly on repentance and faith in Jesus doing it His way? God doesn’t change. Perhaps if we get back to biblical methods we’ll start to see Bible results. Let’s go look at the four gospels and the Book of Acts once again!
What if we spoke as dying men to dying men.. as God would have us do today? Let’s all stand in Christ and be ready, asking for that opportunity once again. Seeds need to be planted, watered, tended and then there needs to be wise reaping too. You have a kind part to play in the harvest.
“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31–32 msg
“He (Jesus kindly) died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore (kindly) encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 #emph.mine.freetranslation
Remember the ole golden rule? No, it’s not “He who has the gold will rule no matter what his character is like.” (even though that’s so often the case). It’s this: ”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.. and do not do unto others what you really don’t want done unto you. Here’s a few more verses to inspire you…
“But when the kindness of and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4–6: niv
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.“ Ephesians 2:7–9 niv
So what exactly is God’s kindness the cause of?:
· Jesus coming into the world ready to give it all for each of us
· The full cleansing of our hearts by the Holy Spirit
· Our eternal hope — He is our living Hope.
You know how our salvation is not at all because we’ve done any good or kind works to earn it, but it’s because of God’s thoughtful grace — a powerful expression of God’s kindness.
Throughout the Bible we are commanded and exhorted to be kind to people (See Gal 5:22; Eph 4:32; Col 3:12), Yes, even towards our enemies (Lk 6:35). We can start on our knees and then it’ll be do-able in the Lord. The reason for that is because God Himself is kind and He still empowers believers world-wide. He forgives any who will repent and come to Him on His terms, and He’ll show great kindness towards those who are ungrateful and wicked. The Bible commands us to…
“Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your heavenly Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36 amp
Kind-livin’ here, for me? Really? But how?
Consider some practical steps to prayerfully take as we each seek to wisely practice kindness towards others:
1.) Take some time out this week to candidly voice what’s on your heart, the frustrations, the needs, the issues with difficult people and situations. Then reflect on God’s word zeroing in on verses on kindness. Then reread the passages looked at and prayerfully memorize some of them (Tit 3:4–6; Eph 2:7–9; and Lk 6:35–36).
2.) Examine yourself, this is an ongoing way of life for believers. Examine how your interactions with people this day, and ask yourself: In what particular ways have I been kind to others? In what ways have I shown unkindness to others?
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5 esv
If you say that you’re a real Christian because of something that happened in the past, then prove it. Please. Salvation is never based on the past. It’s dealing with the right now. Is there fruit meet for repentance yet? Is there fruit that verifies true repentance, because there’s too much false religious repentance or penance voiced these days. Too many say that they are real, but the fruit is like plastic fruit in a bowl on the table. If you were tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Just sayin’.
Please examine yourself to see if you’re in the faith. Yes, in Christ with a meaningful relationship, and prove yourself. Are all your sins under the blood, have you been forgiven of sin? It’s all about righteousness this walk of faith, which means “right living under the standards and Spirit of God’s living word. It means being in right standing with God through Christ His living Son, and right living with Him as Lord.”
If you haven’t repented and believed in God’s only resurrected Son.. if you haven’t trusted Christ asking for forgiveness yet, then you have no righteousness at all. Simple as that. Can’t earn it. can indeed receive it for free. Now is good. Sure, here and now. You don’t need to clean yourself up in order to come to Christ, just come as you are on His Bible terms but be willing to be transformed. There must be inner regeneration and then you’ll be transformed and sanctified. Jesus catches his fish and then He cleans em. We just cooperate all the way through goin’ the distance with Him leading!
3.) Ask God’s Spirit to show you passages in the Bible that you need to start applying better, and to show you areas in your life where you need to improve on showing simple kindnesses to others. Surrender all, and then ask Jesus for some help to overcome those areas that are hard to deal with. Ask Him to give you victory in your spiritual walk.
4.) List out some specific possible ways in which you might go and be kind to others this week, and then set some goals for each day on how or who you might reach out to with the kindness of Jesus.
5.) Pray and ask God to live big on inside of you, and to show His kindness through you this week. (Read more.. blog)
To prayerfully memorize from Proverbs:
"Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you instead let these qualities define you.." Proverbs 3:3
"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart." nlt
"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him." Proverbs 14:31 esv
Why be oppressing or insulting anyone when God is the One who made them? "To help the poor is to honor God." 14:31 tlb
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Proverbs 19:17 esv
"Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full." 19:17 msg
"What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar." Proverbs 19:22 nkjv
"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" Proverbs 20:6 nkjv
"Many a man proclaims his own loving-kindness and goodness, but a faithful man who can find?" Proverbs 20:6 ampc
Am thinking about that last verse above.. Many proclaim their own kindness or how good they are? Yeah, it happens. "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2
"It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one's own glory." Proverbs 25:27 kurtwVs.medium.com
