The word for kindness in Scripture is "chrestotes" and it means "tender concern for others. It has nothing to do with weakness or lack of conviction, but is the genuine desire of the believer to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats him." (John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Galatians) MacArthur goes on to say that "Chrestotes is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would be harsh and austere." Beth Moore says it simply in our study: "Chrestotes is a tender heart and a nurturing spirit."
Two scriptures really convicted me. The first was Isaiah 49:14-16. This scripture compares kindness to a nursing mother. As a mama, I can relate. There's no way a nursing mama can forget her baby. Not only is there an emotional attachment, but there is also a physical attachment. Our bodies alone will not allow us to forget for very long, that our child has a need. Also, the need here is mutual, for you see, as much as that baby needs to eat, our bodies need to nurse. A couple of hours is all it takes! What an amazing part of how God created our bodies! Even moreso is God's nurturing spirit. This scripture talks about kindness in this way. Our relationship to others should always include this type of kindness that cares for one another in a nurturing kind of way. A kindness that is like a mother towards her children. Moms, think about your own child and the fierce love and protection you feel for them. I mean, we can complain or fuss about them, but somebody else say something about them? Whoa, Nelly! Let the claws start to pop out! Why? We don't want anyone to hurt our babies. Ever! Even if we know the things that are said *might* be true, we want to protect them. Guard them. Cover them. Why? Because we love them, faults and all. We know even if they are in a pit of sin, or struggling in their lives, that there is still hope and potential and grace for them.We who realize our God has greatly forgiven us want our children forgiven in this same way. We want people to be kind towards them because they are our flesh and blood. We love them so much!
This is how God wants us to treat one another as the family of Christ. With this type of kindness. A love that covers sin. (Note that does not mean it condones it. It covers it. Different meaning!) A love that is kind is nurturing. It brings nourishment to the souls of others. Sometimes, we dismiss kindness for the sake of truth. What I learned this week is that truth in itself can be harsh. There's no getting around that. But we don't have to be. Let truth be harsh. God certainly packs a punch with His truth, but He never calls us to put our boxing gloves on to hurt people with it. Let our delivery and spirit be kind. I thought about the many times I've spoken truth for the sake of caring/loving someone, but it was done without this type of kindness. That wasn't really love. The truth hurts. People don't need to be hit with truth. They need truth wrapped with loving kindness. 1 Corinthians 13 is an all too familiar passage for us who have been Christians awhile. Sometimes, I need to go back to it for a fresh word, starting with verse 1. "If I speak all the languages of the earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." In other words, if I am speaking truth to someone for the sake of speaking truth to them, that isn't loving, it isn't effective, it isn't honoring God, and it's actually pretty prideful. You have to do it IN LOVE. Truth isn't love in itself. It must be presented with kindness. Loving-kindness. The greek word for this is "charis" what we call in English, "grace." Do you see how all of this ties together with love? Do you see how the Fruit of the Spirit is singular, not plural. It isn't ever "fruits" of the Spirit in Scripture. It's fruit. Each different character is part of one fruit. It isn't one or the other. It's all of it. And it's possible through God working in us. I can certainly see how I've left out so many of these important components in my attempts of loving others. I didn't realize I was missing kindness towards others until I saw in Scripture how God calls it. Please also understand, I am not talking about unhealthy destructive relationships. By all means, there are sometimes boundaries that MUST be taken in some relationships. There can still be forgiveness and kindness in these. This is not what I am addressing here though.
The next Scripture that really spoke to me was in Hosea 11:1-4. Again, this nurturing spirit of our Heavenly Father is an example of kindness towards others. How did He lead them? With cords of human kindness tied with love. What kind of children are represented in this passage? Rebellious ones. Ones who are walking against truth. God doesn't chastise them. He teaches them to walk even though the more He called, the further away they went. He led them not with lashings, but with cords of human kindness and ties of love. Something about the image of God leaning down, as many of us have done with our children, tenders my heart. Aren't you glad that God doesn't treat you and I as we deserve? Aren't you glad that He treats us better than how we have imperfectly parented or treated others when they've deserted us or hurt us? Aren't you glad that in your own rebellion, He didn't smack you upside the head just to teach you a lesson? No, our Heavenly Father continues to lead us with kindness. He doesn't desert us, even when we rebel. Look at the Israelites in the wilderness. Even as they strayed, He led them daily. He does the same for us. He bends down, lifts you to His cheek and feeds you the Bread of Life. In light of this, why should we not go and do likewise? Do we even recognize the lavish love He has poured out on our lives? Really? Or have we so quickly forgotten from what we have been delivered? If we did, I am convinced that we would pour out loving kindness so much more generously. Lord, remind us and forgive us!
Our church has been going through Tim Keller's book The Prodigal God together the past month. It has been such a fresh work of the Spirit in my life, and I'm pretty sure, based on the lively discussions in small group and our Wednesday meetings, the lives of many others within our fellowship. If you haven't read it, I would say it's something that could very well be life changing for you, especially if you have grown up in the church. The synopsis is that we have often looked at the story of "The Prodigal Son" in light of the wayward son, sewing his wild oats, and returning home to a forgiving father. Yet, we've not even seen how the elder son was in just as much sin as the younger. The elder son's sin just wasn't as obvious. It was pharisaical, based on a life of good works but a heart of self-righteousness. He was disgusted with his younger brother's sin, all the while boasting that he had been living right. He wasn't even concerned about the younger brother being forgiven, because he had no mercy and no loving kindness. I'm not sure many of us would admit that we have been that elder brother. We wouldn't outright say we've had THAT kind of attitude, but I wonder if our actions have proved otherwise? It's easy to point out the plank in someone else's lives, someone else's kids, someone else's ministry, or someone else's life choices, when we think we're living right. And maybe you ARE doing things right in appearance. Maybe you go to church every week, tithe faithfully and give over and beyond towards the cause of Christ. Maybe you serve, lead, and are involved in many church activities. Maybe you waited until marriage for sex. Maybe you've been faithful in your marriage and your children are always obedient, honor roll students who follow Christ. Maybe you are respected and honored in your community for the many "good" things you have done. Maybe no one could really ever say an unkind thing about you based on what they see. You see, we can do all the right things on the outside, but if these are ever done without this type of loving kindness in our heart, they're worthless to God. Not just worthless, but filthy.
"It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means, "I desire compassion, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13
The compassion above in the Greek is the word "eleos" and it means, "mercy. Special and immediate regard to the misery which is the consequence of sins. God's mercy is extended for the alleviation of the consequences of sin."(Key Word Study Bible)
This isn't just for the unbeliever, but the believer who has made wrong choices and is suffering. Maybe you haven't made their exact choices, but you can guarantee you've made wrong choices and probably at some point every day or every week at the most. What makes your wrong choices any better than their wrong choices? Do you see how silly that is? Why are we not extending loving kindness to our family in Christ? Why would we not want them to receive the same type of love and kindness that God has given to us? Do you not remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us? Do you not understand that His loving kindness was there BEFORE you ever repented of your sin? The truth is we have too much elder brother mentality. We think we're pretty good in comparison of earthly sin.The other truth is our younger brothers who receive God's grace in their sin may have recognized their sin and repented, but they're still struggling and need a brother or sister to hold their hand. I wonder how many of us are holding on to a younger brother's sin that God has already forgiven?
(crickets)
Yeah, that was my initial response when God asked me the same thing.
God in His sweet loving kindness has shown this girl her elder brother mentality in my past. You see, I wouldn't be characterized typically as an "unkind" person. I am not malicious or mean spirited. Oh, you could find PLENTY of fault in me, no doubt about that. Plenty! I definitely would never qualify under that "blameless" characteristic. However, I have been a black/white type most of my life. Having a gift of teaching where you are passionate to present truth can be hard to balance with loving kindness because you often feel you are giving up one for the other. The truth is we aren't! I've seen God softening my heart the past year in this- even up to this past week, and it's shown me the areas where I have fallen short in truly demonstrating loving kindness. There were even times I shirked back from showing kindness to someone out of fear that others might think I was compromising. Ridiculous, huh? I have repented of this! What I didn't realize until this week is that it is His kindness that helps us to demonstrate love like He loves- faithfully. The same kindness I want others to have with my children is the same kindness I am to have towards others. Doesn't that help your perspective? It sure does this mama's. This is what I have come away with in these studies the most. I have received so much grace with mercy AND truth in this lesson, that it's changed me to the core. I've seen what UNkindness can do to the body. I want to take in all you who have been hurt by us elder brothers in the church, and just pour out His loving kindness all over you because that is what He has done for me. Don't become bitter or cynical as I did at one time when others disappoint or fail you. News alert: you fail them, too. Don't let it turn you into something or someone you are not. Let God soften your heart! Go seek out those who are struggling in a pit of sin and wrap your arms around them! And you in your sin. Whatever it is. I love you! I cannot change you, but God can. And I will trust His Word to do that in you, but it will not stop me from extending mercy and loving kindness to you. Never are we given permission to be "mean girls" (or boys) in Scripture. Never! Church, let them know we are Christians by our loving kindness! It doesn't ever mean we must sacrifice truth. When will we see and live this? When will we have the perspective of our loving, kind Savior that longs to gather His children together under His wing? Let today be the start for you. Treat others how you would want your own children to be treated.
"Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches;
But
let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me
[personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My
character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment,
and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the
Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24 (AMP)
Church, how will you demonstrate loving kindness in your daily life? Ask God to search your heart in this, and respond as He speaks. Will the world see how you interact with one another and know it's different than what they see in typical relationships? Will you look at humanity lost in sin with compassion and love rather than disgust and dismissal? Will we be kind and compassionate towards one another, bearing with one another in love and not stirring up dissension through "sharing" with friends or "prayer requests"? Will we choose to place a guard over our mouths and cover one another for the sake of nourishing and unity? When we must confront or rebuke, will it be led with cords of kindness, faithful ties of love that will never be cut, and a sweet covering of grace? Will we choose to never stop loving with kindness?
No comments:
Post a Comment