DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: MAY 8 POWER OF KINDNESS SCRIPTURES: Nehemiah 9: 17; Luke 6: 35

How can one talk of kindness in a world full of injustices, violence, arbitrary judicial killings, political exploits, murder and other offenses from man upon fellow man? How can any religion teach her followers to be kind to people in a generation full of ingrates and abusers of goodwill? How will one be told to be kind to one who assassinated his closed relations or friends? An ordinary mind will find it difficult to key into any instruction, demanding someone to be kind hearted to people these days. But for Christians, showing kindness is not optional but obligatory as it is a command from the Supreme Being, the Almighty God. Our new series on the devotional is about “Power of Kindness”. Like other fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5: 23, kindness is a very powerful virtue. Reading through philosophy books, psychological documents as well as Christian books have shown that kindness is inestimably powerful.

Today’s devotional will look at what kindness stands for in Christian teachings. The word “Kindness” comes from Greek word “chrestotes” and its root word carries a meaning of “usefulness”. Other meanings associated with kindness are moral goodness, integrity and it involves tenderness or concern for others. Kindness is a matter of the heart and this is why some Bible teachers conclude that it is bone in the Spirit Realm. Kindness is an essential aspect of God’s nature because God shows kindness to every human being. When Jesus Christ told His Disciples to love their neighbours and even their enemies, He is talking on all-inclusive kindness. Christians are to be kind to everyone. Kindness is one of God’s distinguishing characteristics. He is kind to the ungrateful, the selfish, the most sinful and those who obediently follow Him. Kindness is like love in the sense that it should not be shown just to people who deserve it. The Bible says about this: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for Himself is kind to ungrateful and the evil” (Luke 6: 35 (English Standard Versions)).

Admittedly, kindness is a difficult thing to exhibit. But Christians have no other alternative to it since kindness is also God’s characteristic. In comparing God’s character with the people of Israel, Nehemiah said of God “…But you are God. Ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness…” (Nehemiah 9: 17). This means we ought to include kindness in our lifestyle characteristics. We Christians should know that kindness needs faithful practice every day, kindness also requires intentionality. This says that kindness must come from genuine intention void of external impulse to be kind. We are not to be kind to people for what we can get from the action, either from human beings or from God.The world today is yearning for international kindness from Christians because they are the only group of people who can give this selfless kindness in the difficult time like this.

PRAYERS:

1. Pray that the Holy Spirit breaths upon your heart and mind, the true meaning of Biblical kindness as we go through this series in the name of Jesus Christ.

2. Ask God to build into you, characteristic of His Kindness, so as to love and help people without constraints in Jesus name.

POSITIVE DECLARATION:

Henceforth, I will show the world intentional kindness to make me shine the light of Christ.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch.