“Kindness is on her tongue” (Prov.31:26).
“The fruit of the Spirit is… kindness” (Gal.5:22).
“Clothe yourselves with… kindness” (Col.3:12).
“Show kindness and mercy to one another” (Zech.7:9).
“God’s kindness leads you to repentance” (Rom.2:4)
“By his goodness and kindness, God saved us...” (Tit.3:4).
“God will eternally express his kindness to us in Jesus” (pp Eph.2:7).
Heavenly Father, if “seven” is the number of perfection and fullness in the Bible, then it’s a good thing for us to begin this June Thursday with a “7-pack” of verses highlighting the greatness of your kindness and our calling to live as conduits of your kind-heartedness. Thrill our hearts afresh with the measureless magnificence of your kindness; and free us to think kindly, speak kindly, and relate kindly all day long—when it’s easy-breezy, and when it will take the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Kindness isn’t an attitude you generate in response to anything in us (Hallelujah); and there’s nothing we will do today that will “un-kind” you or put you in a bad mood (Hallelujah!) Because this is wondrously true, in our most irritation-fueling moments and relationships, there will always be a kinder way forward. No one can make us mean. No one can make us harsh. Those are choices we make in response to very real emotions. You never tell us not to feel angry; but in our anger not to sin (Eph.4:26). Help us, Abba.
Proactively, whatever attire we’re donning for the day, we will remain under-dressed until we first clothe ourselves with your kindness (Col. 3:12). The Gospel is the difference between the external kindness of “southern niceness,” the transactional congeniality of a “kiss-up,” and the revolutionary kindness you lavish on us in Jesus (1Jn.3:1-3). All day help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the Gospel (Gal. 2:14). Thank you and So Very Amen.
