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Bible Verses by Topic ~ Kindness
What Is Kindness To You?
Think about a time when someone did something kind for you. Was it something that you demanded to be done? Did you ask for it? Did you expect it?
In most cases the answer is no. Maybe the kindness was when someone held the door for you. Or maybe when the car ahead of you gracious let you make that lane change. Maybe a friend gave you a hug when you needed it most. Maybe your spouse left you a surprise rose. There are many ways to show kindness.
Kindness Meets Needs.
Kindness brings joy. Kindness let others know someone cares for them. There is no better example of kindness than looking at God’s kindness towards us.
Kindness is Part of Love
First Corinthians 13:4 says “love suffers long and is kind”.
Kindness Caused God to Make Us
God says it was His loving kindess that created us in Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV: “The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.”
Kindness Causes God to Sustain Us
The psalmist knew it was God’s loving kindness that keeps him: “Let Your loving kindness and Your truth continually preserve me” (Psalm 40:11).
Kindness is the Root of God’s Mercy
Even the rebel Jonah knew God’s loving kindness. Jonah 4:2 NKJV says “for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, One who relents from doing harm.”
We were created in God's image. As a result, we have the same capacity to extend kindness that God has. Are you wondering how to start being kind? Here are a few suggestions:- Visit someone in the hospital. You are presence could be a gift from God to the person you are visiting.
- Send a birthday card to let someone know you care.
- Bake some cookies for your family, neighbors or coworkers.
- Help an elderly person who has too many packages to carry.
- Call someone like a family member or friend you've lost touch with.
Did you notice how kindness only happens with an action? Visit, send, bake, carry, call these are all action for verbs. These all require some form of action on our part. Kindness shows up when we act.
James said faith without works is dead (James 2:17). I say the same thing holds true for kindness. You can't be kind if you never offer kindness in some way. Start today. Show some kindness to someone and watch how God is glorified.
Lord thank you for your loving kindness towards us. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who teaches us how to be kind to others. May we never forget the extent of kindness you have given to us and may that knowledge compel us to share that kindness with others. In Jesus name Amen.
© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.
Jesus Shows Kindness
Read John 4:1-26
In Jesus’ day there was a well-known fact Jews and Samaritans did not socialize together. Another part of that time and tradition was the fact Jewish men did not openly speak to a woman in public. With those two things present, it would have been quite easy for Jesus to bypass Samaria on His journey. No one would have thought twice about it.
But Jesus is different. John 4:4 says “But He needed to go through Samaria.” In going to Samaria,Jesus is showing the world there is no reason for the barrier between these two races. He demonstrates kindness to the people of Samaria by purposely going there.
While He was there resting at the well, He strikes up a conversation with a woman. Not just any woman but an outcast, despised, lonely, and sinful woman. Jesus shows kindness to her and elevated her value in society, when He spoke to her. He considered her important by virtue of spending time speaking to her when no one else would.
Jesus demonstrated that both Samaritans and women should not be treated as though they were some contagious disease, something to avoid or steer clear of, but as real people with real needs.
Are there people you are avoiding? Show some kindness today. Strike up a conversation with someone you wouldn't normally talk to.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the many ways you demonstrate kindness to us. Today Lord, we thank you for the example you have given us in the book of John. Help us to see people as you do with real needs and feelings just like us. Help us break down the barrier keeping us from connecting with them. In your name we pray Amen.
©ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.
God’s Kindness
Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the LORD. Psalm 107:43 NKJV
Read Psalm107.
The entire Bible is full of stories, examples, and poetry of God's kindness towards mankind. Psalm107 is no exception. The psalmist starts out by saying “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” As the Psalm progresses though,we see how men turned their backs on God, or demonstrate their sinfulness, or continued in their own way and find them self in distress. But one thing remains the same every time they cried out to the Lord in their troubles; the Lord answered them by delivering them out if their distresses.
So the Lord saved His people repeatedly whether or not they deserve to be saved. In this, He showed loving kindness towards the people who continued to stray. Notice every time the people were in trouble,all they had to do was call on the Lord and He would save them. But they did have to call on the Lord. That appears to be our part, realizing we need the Lord's help. Then God's part was delivering them from their troubles, which he did faithfully every time they called out to Him.
Have you ever had someone ask you for help and he didn't want to give it to them? Maybe your attitude-filled teenager needed help on homework but because of the “way” he asked, you didn't feel like helping him. Well, according to this Psalm, God didn't wait for the people to cleanup their act before He helped them. No,God helped them when they called with no strings attached.
One other thing to point out about this Psalm is how men never fully grasped God's loving kindness towards them. It says whoever is wise will observe these things and they will understand the loving kindness of the Lord, but for the most part the people did not notice the loving kindness of the Lord. They continued what they were doing it until it caused such great distress they had to call out the Lord.
Romans 12:2 NKJV “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” indicates that we must be different in our thinking. We cannot just continue to drift along through life. We need to allow God's word to change the way we think. Then we will be able to observe all that God does for us and we will understand the loving kindness of the Lord.
Lord thank you so much for all You do for us. Give us the spiritual eyes that we may see just how much you really do care for us on a daily basis. Fill us with your spirit that we may act towards others as you act towards us. In your name we pray Jesus Amen.
© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.
Return to Kindness
We have already discussed kindness as it relates to manners,politeness and action. Today we want to focus on practical steps for implementing kindness.
Step 1: Realize by God’s grace we live in America.
We are more fortunate than a large majority of the world. God could have had us live in
Africa, Darfar, Uganda or any other third-world country, but He chose America for us. We don’t know why. But we can be sure God has a plan for us. With all this privilege comes responsibility. Are we using our abilities and resources in a way pleasing to God?
Step 2: Begin with a smile.
Thinking about all we have to be thankful for puts us in the proper fame of mind and enables kindness to flow freely. After all, we have so much why not share with others?
Step 3: See a need and meet it.
If you see someone carrying a bunch of packages struggling to open the door, offer to help carry and open the door for them. If you see some trash on the ground as you’re walking along, stop and pick it up. This simple act of being kind to the environment can spark others to care too. If you are planning to go to the post office, ask your co-workers,family or neighbors if they need anything. Picking up some extra stamps for someone who is not able to go on their own could be a great help. If you’re in a meeting and notice no one taking notes, begin capturing the action items and decisions. Send your notes to the meeting facilitator to share with all the attendees.
Have you noticed a pattern in these examples? That’s right,thoughtfulness, consideration for others and action on our part. Doing something kind is all about helping someone else. When we are focused on being thankful to God, we more readily and willingly want to help others. That’s where God wants our focus – on others instead of on our self.
Here are a few more ideas:- Be patient when I feel like screaming
- Take clothes to the dry cleaner without being asked
- Send a card to a friend for no other reason that “I was thinking of you”
- Smile at a passerby
- Drop food off at a local food pantry
- Give clothes to a charity
- Recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans
Lighten up, look out for ways to help and respond in kindness by getting involved. You will never regret doing something kind for someone. Your very act of kindness could lead others to care and respond like you did to them. Caution being kind could also lead to a sense of well-being, gratefulness and joy in being helpful. Who wouldn’t want those feelings in their life?
Lord Jesus, you are the ultimate example of kindness. You died for us even when we did not know you. You saved us before we knew we needed saving. You took the initiative. Enable us to be kind to others as well. Help us take the initiative and get involved. In your precious name we pray.Amen.
© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc.
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