Click on the above button to join in on Marsha’s 14-week series on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7…
This week Marsha is challenging us to share our thoughts on kindness. “Love is patient and kind…~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 (ESV – emphasis mine). I really had to think about the questions Marsha was posting about kindness. At a first glance I have to answer all questions with “Yes”. I do believe that I am kind, respectful. I am kind in my home, I have a heart for the less fortunate …
But than it hit me this morning as I was driving. Am I really kind to all? Kind to the ones that are unkind to me? You know what Scripture passages came to mind? In Luke 6 Jesus talks about loving the enemy…
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” ~ Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)
Ouch!!! Do I do good to those who hate me? Sometimes. Do I bless who curse me? Hm…I don’t remember that I ever did. Do I pray for those who abuse me? Rarely…That is something the Lord has to work out in me. This certainly does not come natural to me — yes, I am a work in progress.
Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for showing me that I am not “all that”. Yes, it is easy to be kind to people who are kind back. It is easy to love family and friends and show them kindness. I even show kindness to people I have never met…But You asking more — loving on my enemies. Lord to do that, I need Your help. Please let Your light shine through me. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.
It is hard. I have a difficult person in my life, I know I have been “kind” in front of this person, but behind him….hmm not sure. But God is telling me I need to focus on Him not on the unkind person.
We all need to show more kindness, especially to those who are unkind to us. They need the light of Jesus to shine in their heart. I love you my friend.
Ouch is right! Those are thought-provoking questions, thanks for sharing your answers. I agree with Denise above and what you said about being kind to all.
Oh I know what you mean about the difficult people, or the person that cuts you off in traffic… Amen, yes Lord. Let your light shine through me.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Iris.
You never know when that difficult person is ready for a kind word that could open doors for them to transformation—but boy it’s hard, isn’t it!? Great post.