Above all These, Put on Love Part 9 (Love is Not Irritable)

Love is Not Irritable

By Wendy Wood

Love is not irritable.  Other translations say, “love is not easily provoked”.  The Greek word is paroxynō which comes from the roots of “to” and “swift”.  This is translated throughout scripture as “arousing anger” and “to exasperate”.  Love is not quick to get angry or quick to show annoyance or impatience.  

Jerry Bridges describes irritability this way.  “While impatience is a strong sense of annoyance or exasperation, irritability, as I define it, describes the frequency of impatience, or the ease with which a person can become impatient over the slightest provocation.  The person who easily and frequently becomes impatient is an irritable person.  Most of us can become impatient at times, but the irritable person is impatient most of the time.  The irritable person is one whom you feel you have to tiptoe or ‘walk on eggshells’ around.”  Do others, maybe especially your immediate family members, feel like they are walking on eggshells around you? 

Proverbs 17:9 says, “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”  Someone who is quick to anger and is impatient frequently does not cover over an offense.  An irritable person points out other people’s offensive or inconvenient behavior and shows their annoyance.  Genuine, godly love covers an offense by being patient and kind even when hurt by another person.  A person with mature love does not need to make it known that he has been offended or inconvenienced. 

This idea is repeated in 1 Peter 4:8.  “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins”.  When sinned against, a loving person can go on without making a big deal of it.  While it is true that love is willing to point out sin when someone is “caught” in the sin (Galatians 6:1), most of the time an irritable person responds to very small and insignificant sins.  “A multitude of sins” can be covered over.  These are the small ways family and friends sin against each other every single day.  We are sinners.  We sin.  A lot!  Are you typically irritated by those little sins and quick to point them out and be annoyed by them?  Or do you overlook sins and graciously respond with patience and kindness?

All of these facets of love come from the heart.  Out of the heart comes thoughts, words, and actions.  Irritability doesn’t have to be verbal or active to be seen.  Body language and facial expressions often are the first signs of being easily provoked.  Some irritable people will use looks or body language as a warning that they are becoming impatient and provoked as if to warn the offender to stop before explosive anger is displayed.  Because irritability is usually a quieter or smaller form of anger, it is often excused as a temperment rather than sin. But just as Jesus connected lust and adultery as the same heart issue, and anger and murder as the same heart issue, irritability and rage come from the same heart. Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 13:5 make it clear that being irritable is sin.  Love does not act that way and we are commanded to love others.  An irritable person says, “Don’t inconvenience me or sin against me or you will suffer consequences.”  

Proverbs 12:16 says, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult”.  A fool makes his annoyances known immediately. An irritable person is quick to get angry and is quick to show it.  This person has a “short fuse” and is easily offended.  An irritable person has strong preferences for how things should be done or the way they should be treated.  Any infringement on their preference is met with an impatient and rude response whether verbally or with body language.  Conversely, a prudent or careful person is able to ignore an insult.  A loving person allows others mistakes and sins with patience.  Proverbs 19:11puts it this way.  “Good sense makes one slow to anger,and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”  It is wise to be slow to anger.  There are times when it is right to be angry.  But it is wise to think carefully first and assess.  It is a good thing, a glory or display of greatness, to overlook an offense. 

Each of these facets of love have similarities, but also differences.  An irritable person is one who demands his own way, even in small things.  The irritable person is so consistently annoyed and displays their unhappiness that it forms a habitual response.  The friends and family of an irritable person suffer from the frequent and quick arousal to anger.

Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit [temper], but a wise man holds it back.”  This is the same fool as 12:16.  A fool voices his displeasure at the smallest provocation.  But, a wise man, or as 19:11 says, good sense, holds back his temper.  An irritable person responds out of emotions. The irritable person is so focused on their own comfort and ease that any person or circumstance that causes a loss of comfort or ease is on the receiving end of harsh, hasty words.  

Wayne Mack has a list of excuses that irritable people often use.  As  you read through this list, evaluate yourself.  Are you one to excuse your lack of love?

1. They justify their irritability by blaming it on their circumstances or on other people.

2. The excuse or minimize their irritability by saying that they get over it quickly.

3. They say “I just can’t help it. It’s just the way I am.”

4. They minimize the seriousness of their irritability by saying “What do you expect? That’s the way my parents were!”  In essence, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  “It was their fault”.

5. They justify their irritability by saying that other people ought to know that they don’t really mean it when they react badly, that they really do respect them and love them in spite of their anger and irritability.  Often I’ve heard, “Other people ought to remember all the good things I do and say and just ignore this aspect of my behavior.  Why do they focus only on the bad stuff?”

6. They excuse it by heaping insults upon themselves. “I’m just weak! I’m no good!  Others may be able to be uncontentious, gentle, considerate, meek and submissive, but I just can’t be those things!”

It is true we can only love this way because of what Christ has already done for us.  When we have His Spirit in us and also put effort forth, we can grow to love with patience and tolerance of others.  In Philippians 2 just after we see Jesus willing becoming a servant even to the point of death, and Jesus is now ascended and seated at the right hand of God and every knee will bow to Him,  we read, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  The word “therefore” refers back to what Christ has already done.  It is because of Him that we can obey.  We must work out our salvation, meaning we must continue to obey God’s command to love and grow in love, as God’s grace continues to work in us through His power. 

Application:

1. What stood out to you about “love is not irritable”?

2. How do you rate yourself on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being “very irritable”?  Why?

3. How is irritability related to demanding your own way?  How is it different?

4. What scripture stood out to you in this reading?  How could meditating on this verse encourage you as you fight against being irritable?

5. What specific situations easily provoke you to anger?

6. Examine your list from #5.  Are these preferences or sin issues?

7. If preferences, are you willing to prefer the other person over yourself and just overlook it?  If it is a sin issue, is it a big enough issue in that person’s life that it needs to be addressed?  If so, how will you deal with the person regarding this sin so that you honor God with your attitude, words, and actions?

Above All These, Put on Love Part 3 (Love is Kind)

By Wendy Wood

Love is kind.  The Greek word for kind is chrēsteuomai which means goodness or graciousness. It means to “show one’s self mild”. Being kind is showing good to others. Kindness is active.  The opposite of kindness is severity:  lacking compassion and gentleness, being harsh or inconsiderate. “God is love” (1 John 4:19) so God is kind.  God is kind to all.  Luke 6:35 says, “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 he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”  God chooses to be kind to all.   He “causes the sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).  Everyone experiences the kindness of God in some ways.  Kindness is doing good to others for their benefit and well-being.  It involves helping others, seeking to alleviate hardship or suffering, being useful or being sympathetic, and then actually doing something that helps someone in need.  Kindness seeks to make someone else’s experience more enjoyable and beneficial than it would be otherwise.

Kindness seeks the good of the other person.  Ultimately, this means seeking to share the hope of the gospel with others (Matthew 28:20).  It includes helping a fellow believer see the sin that they are caught in so they have the opportunity to repent (Galatians 6:1).  Kindness includes encouraging others (1 Thessalonians 5:11), helping those who are afflicted (James 1:27), helping the weak, admonishing the idle, and encouraging the fainthearted (1 Thessalonians 5:13).  Kindness speaks truth with love (Ephesians 4:15) and uses words that build others up and kindness works to benefit those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).  Kindness helps with physical needs like water (Matthew 10:42)  and care when a neighbor is hurt (Luke 10:25-37).  Like the Good Samaritan, a kind person sees a need and goes to great length to meet that need.

Again, the world has a different definition of kindness.  The world says that kindness shows tolerance of every opinion and viewpoint and will never disagree or disapprove of another’s choices.  The world says we are unkind to call sin sin.  According to the American culture, any type of stand against sin is ‘judgmental’ and ‘hatred’.  We again must be careful to define kindness as God does.

As believers, we are God’s ambassadors.  We represent Christ in our interactions with others.  Kindness should permeate all our relationships and every encounter we have with others because God is kind.  As we have experienced the kindness of God in forgiveness and being drawn into relationship with Him, we will reflect that kindness in attitude, thought, word, and deed.  Our actions and words must be filtered through God’s example of kindness.  What we say and do is just as important as what we don’t say or do.  To be kind we must consider our tone of voice, the body language we display, and the timing of our words. We will constantly evaluate all our responses based on what the other person needs at the moment.

Consider these common occurrences in life and opportunities to show kindness rather than severity:

When your children need correction

When your spouse has said something offensive or hurtful to you

When a friend makes a comment that hurts your feelings

When a checkout clerk ignores you

When you are tired and just want to put your feet up but someone needs help

When a friend is struggling with a besetting sin that you are aware of and she is not

When someone in your life group talks way too much and dominates your group time

When someone is in need of childcare and you have the evening free

How would kindness respond in these situations?  

Do you correct your children with kind words and a kind tone even when it’s the tenth time you are repeating yourself?  

When your spouse is unkind to you, do you respond with gentleness and meekness?  

When a friend hurts your feelings do you harbor bitterness for a while or do you gently explain how you are hurt and seek reconciliation?

When a clerk ignores you do you take it personally and get rude or do you consider that she may be having a really hard day and a smile from you would be beneficial to her?

 Are you quick to give up your relaxing time to help others simply because someone else will benefit?  

Do you remain silent about a friend’s sin because it would jeopardize your friendship to point it out or do you kindly help her see how she is sinning and point her to Christ’s forgiveness?

Are you willing to patiently endure someone who lacks social skills so they are comfortable with a new group or do you fume inside and gossip about her later?

Are you quick to give up your free time so someone else is blessed or do you focus on yourself and what you want?

Kindness looks to the good of others.  As you read through the above examples, think about the opportunities you had this week to extend kindness to others.  Where did you see the chance to do something that would benefit someone else?  What did you do?

Scripture tells us that it is God’s kindness that draws us to repentance; we are drawn to God by His character which is kind.  He is “for us” (Romans 8:31); He desires our good which comes only from being in relationship to him. Romans 2 starts with asking questions about why we judge other people’s sin when we are guilty of the same sins.  The question Paul is asking is “Do you take God’s kindness for granted and excuse your sin but expect others to be kind and loving to you?”  Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”  God doesn’t ignore sin, but He is kind to show us our sin and our need for a Savior because He is so loving He desires what is best for us.

Jesus was kind.  We see his example over and over in the Gospels where he always was looking to the good of others.  Even when he was tired and exhausted from a long day of ministry, Jesus had compassion on the crowds.  He lamented that the people were like sheep without a shepherd and he wanted to serve them and guide them.  Rather than take care of his own needs, Jesus consistently ministered to those around him.  When rebuke was needed, he rebuked because kindness doesn’t ignore sin.  Sin has real consequences and love seeks to help others be restored to God.  Love confronts sin with kindness and gentleness (Galatians 6:1). 

Jesus showed His love in how He acted for the good of others with a gentleness and care for who the person was and what they were suffering.  In Mark 1 we see several examples.  Mark 1:31 shows Jesus taking Simon’s mother-in-law by the hand and lifting her up physically as he also healed her fever.  Later in that chapter, in verse 41, Jesus was “moved with pity” so he stretched out his hand and touched a leper.  At risk to himself, for the good of the leper, Jesus touched someone that the rest of society wouldn’t come near.  Lepers in those days had to walk around announcing themselves as “unclean” in a loud voice so others could be sure to stay far away.  Jesus did what was best for this man and allowed him to experience a loving touch after years without.

Sometimes being kind meant Jesus addressed sin head on.  When the rich young ruler approached Jesus and asked about eternal life, Jesus could have shied away from correction when the young man said he had been obeying the commandments since birth (Mark 10).  Kindness, desiring what was truly best for the young man, was demonstrated in Jesus pointing out that the man loved his possessions more than God.  Jesus cared about this man’s heart, his relationship with God, and his eternal destiny, so kindness meant confronting sin.

Even when Jesus was hanging on the cross in agony, he demonstrated kindness to his mother (John 19:26).  Rather than being focused on himself and on what he needed, he acted on behalf of his mother and made sure she would be cared for by John after he was gone.  Kindness looks to the interest of others.  Kindness seeks to do what will be good for the other person.  Kindness uses words and actions to make someone else’s situation better.  

Application:

1. Which concepts stand out the most to you about love being kind?  Why?

2. Think through the principles above of seeking to do good for others in the way you think, speak, and act.  How do you rate yourself in kindness on a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being as kind as Jesus) and why?

3. Look up the following verses and write down what you learn.

Galatians 5:22-23

Psalm 141:5

Acts 28:2

Ephesians 2:4-10

Titus 3:4-7

4. In what situations that you face on a regular basis is it difficult for you to act for the good of others even to the point that it inconveniences you?

5. What people are the most difficult for you to be kind to?  Why?

6. Evaluate your week.  Where did you show genuine kindness to others because you know God is kind to you and you want to show that kindness to others?

7. What are some specific ways that you need to change to be kind?  Write out at least 3 new ways to show kindness.

Bearing the Fruit of Kindness

by Paul Tautges

As a fruit of the Spirit, and a part of what it means to be like Christ, kindness is also an attribute of God.

• God is kind to all of his creatures. This is what theologians call common grace; that is, it is common to all—even those who reject Christ.

• The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:45 are an example of common grace: “For [God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

• According to the apostle Paul, writing in Romans 2:4, it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. It is not God’s harsh pressure that brings us to salvation, but His kindness, which works alongside His patience (the fruit we learned about last Sunday).

• Therefore, since it is the kindness of God that leads us to the repentance that results in salvation, kindness is most appreciated by those who are saved. And not only is it the kindness of God that leads us to salvation, but day-by-day we continue to see multitude ways in which God is kind to us.

God is even kind to his enemies, as Jesus says in Luke 6:32-36.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 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 he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

When you find a Christian who is truly humble and kind to all you have found a jewel, since kindness is less common than we realize. I laughed out loud when I read how one Bible dictionary defines kindness. Kindness is an “attribute of God and quality desirable but not consistently found in humans.” Sadly, this is true. We live in a mean world. But what is most grievous of all is when those who claim to be followers of Christ are downright mean-spirited and unkind. Brothers and sisters, it should not be this way. Of all people in the world, we should be models of kindness.

Defining Kindness

The definition that I will use in this blog post is from one of my systematic theology textbooks: “Kindness is expressed as a tender, gentle concern for others that actively seeks out ways to serve them.” (Biblical Doctrine, page 376).

These expressions of kindness are present in the tender ministry of Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve. Jesus was tender, not harsh. The only exception to this was when He was dealing with the religious leaders who opposed the authority of God and His Word. His kind and gentle spirit is especially made clear in the only place in the Four Gospels where Jesus describes himself.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

This kind of gentleness is a mark of Christlikeness. According to 2 Corinthians 6:6, kindness is also a mark of an authentic minister of the gospel. In the first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul described the ministry that he and his companions had this way:

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

1 Thessalonians 2:7

If we are to be like Christ then we must grow the fruit of kindness. In Ephesians 4:32 we are commanded to be kind to one another, as part of the outworking of the gospel in our hearts.

Four Truths about the Fruit of Kindness

In this passage of Scripture there are four truths about kindness, which God wants you to understand and apply to your life.

1. Kindness reveals new life in Christ (Eph. 4:25-29).

2. Kindness requires help from the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

3. Kindness replaces harmful deeds of the flesh (Eph. 4:31-32).

4. Kindness reflects the love of God (Eph. 5:1-2).

Kindness is very important to God. It is an area of character development that He expects us to authentically display as fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. It is a mark of spiritual growth and maturity. And so important is kindness to God that He says it is more important than performing religious sacrifices to Him.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

Posted at: https://counselingoneanother.com/2020/05/17/bearing-the-fruit-of-kindness/

Seeing the People in Front of You

Darby Strickland

As I read the gospels, I am struck by how attuned Jesus is to the people around him. Many encounters start with the simple introduction of who he sees.

• Jesus sees Andrew and Peter following him, and he engages their inquiring hearts (John 1:38).

• Jesus sees Nathanael and encourages his devout worship (John 1:47-50).

• Jesus sees the paralyzed man and heals him (John 5:6–10).

• Jesus sees the hungry crowd and feeds them (John 6:5–11).

• Jesus sees the grief of Mary and Martha and weeps with them (John 11:33).

As Jesus looks around, his eyes are active and engaged. He notices people. And he looks long enough to see people’s physical and spiritual needs. But what he sees is just the start of the story; he then moves in and is present with them.

My question is: Is this true of me? There are many days when I am distracted and don’t notice the people around me. My eyes are open, but my brain is elsewhere. There are other days when I choose to look past the people around me and toward something I deem more essential or enchanting.

Jesus lived a life that was practiced at seeing. So much so, that even as he hung on the cross, experiencing intense and unrelenting pain, he saw his mother in distress and asked his friends to care for her (John 19:26). At that point, we would not expect him to be noticing others, but he did. As he struggled for breath, he would have been right to focus on the much more significant and critical task of securing our eternal union with God. But even at that moment, Jesus sees the people around him and cares for them.

I want to grow in this. I want to notice the precious people that the Lord has surrounded me with. But it is not easy to do. There are so many things that compete for my attention. There have been moments I have been too engrossed with a task, or something on my phone, to even look up! Yet, I am challenged by how the gospel writers bring us into Jesus’ line of sight, and how what Jesus sees directs his next steps. So I must ask myself, who is in my midst that I am not seeing? I continue to ask the Lord to give me his eyes to see.

And I assume I am not alone in this. Do you hide behind the shield of busyness, thinking that what you are engaged in at the moment is more important than those the Lord has placed in your path? I do. Seeing takes work. It means looking away from myself (and what I am doing) and entering into the world of another. And it takes practice. Here are a few questions to get you (and me) started:

• Are you, like me, failing to see?

• What captures your attention as you move through your day?

• What do you notice yourself looking at?

• Are you careful with what steals your attention?

• Do you see your affection growing for what you spend time seeing (both good and bad)?

It helps me to know that Jesus sees me even now. We are never alone as he invites us to see and bless the people he places in our midst. I want to grow in doing what Jesus himself did. Will you pray with me that we grow in seeing?

Posted at: https://www.ccef.org/seeing-the-people-in-front-of-you/?mc_cid=fd1450e036&mc_eid=90be5e29a6

5 Surprising Truths about Biblical Kindness

by Davis Wetherell

I’m not sure I’ve ever met a person who does not want kindness. In today’s society, people generally agree that more kindness would make the world a better place. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from? What does it do?

Definitions of this word often associate the word with being friendly, generous, and considerate. While this may be helpful, these three terms can fail to depict the full nature of what kindness looks like. Here are five things the Bible reveals about kindness rooted in Christ, which gives the term some needed substance:

1.) Kindness is Powerful

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared… (Titus 3:3-4)

Consider what Paul is claiming here.

He is saying that we were fools. We did not obey. We followed leaders who took us astray. Not only this but we spent all our time wishing we had what others had and being angry at them for having it. Other people hated us, and we returned the favor. If I met a person like this today, I would likely say, “They are too far gone! Nothing can bring them back to goodness.”

Then everything shifts as Paul writes, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared.” Just like that, the previous evils are overshadowed by the great mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   

Kindness, like meekness, gets confused for passivity and ineffectiveness. But the Bible says otherwise—it is the tool of God’s omnipotence. Kindness is so powerful, it is even stronger than death!

2.) Kindness Is Stronger than Death

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead! (Ruth 2:20)

In discussing a man whom Ruth just met (Boaz), Naomi hopes for best. She says, “may he be blessed by the Lord,” and then she describes the Lord with these amazing words: “whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”

This woman has seen many trials in her life. First, a famine in her home land caused Naomi and her whole family to flee. Then, her husband died. And then, her two sons pass away. All she had left was her two daughters-in-law, which would soon become one daughter-in-law after the other went back home.

This woman was familiar with death. We may think that she would distrust God or think that He did not care for her or her family. But, in reality, Naomi believes in God’s goodness and knows Him to have a lasting kindness extending both to herself and to her deceased family members.

Death was not enough to make Naomi doubt God’s kindness. Nor was it enough, she knew, to separate her husband and sons from it.

Her words sound a lot like what Paul writes in his letter to the Romans: “For I am sure that neither death nor life… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

God’s kindness is stronger than death! This was true in Naomi’s day, in Paul’s day, and also in ours. If we are in Christ, we shall always see the power of God’s lovingkindness.

3.) Kindness Prepares for Repentance

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

So, kindness has significant power, and it’s power is not meant to simply make us feel better about ourselves. The power of kindness is seen in how it leads people to repentance.

Remember this next time someone makes you angry. You want them to know how they hurt you, and you want them to never do it again. When I am in this position, I usually use a different tool than kindness. I may use spite, gossip, or coldness, thinking to myself that kindness will only encourage their behavior.

This fruit of the Spirit entails forbearance, yet Scripture also tells us that God uses kindness to lead us into repentance. Why should I use a tool other than the one God chooses to use?

4.) Kindness Can Hurt

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
   let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head. (Psalm 141:5)

When I think of actions associated with kindness, I think of “hug,” “listen,” or “smile.” I certainly do not think of “strike!” Yet, Psalm 141 brings together the two words.

When someone speaks a hard truth into your life, it can hurt. Sometimes it feels like they have betrayed you, like they don’t understand you anymore, or like they are looking down on you. In the moment, you can’t see why they would say what they did—and it just feels like an aimless, unprompted attack.

And yet, what at first seems like an aimless attack may actually be a compassionate gesture, pushing you back toward fixing your eyes on Christ. Once your eyes are on Him, you can look back and say: “I was in a bad place, and thanks to the kind strike from my friend, I’ve returned to the peace that comes from Jesus.”

5.) Kindness Brings Honor

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

Once again, kindness sometimes carries a connotation of insignificance and failure. Kindness might seem like a nice ideal to some, but if they really want to “make a difference” or “be someone important,” then they can’t be kind all the time.

First of all, this is not true. As we have already demonstrated, kindness is powerful, and it can change the person you never thought would change.

Secondly, it is slightly true. This world promises certain honors, many of which could be missed by a person who was kind all the time. Yet, as Christians, we are called to strive for a greater honor. We are called to imitate the sufferings of Jesus, which result in an imperishable honor.

There is great honor waiting for those who pursue kindness—for they are zealous for good works for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Don’t miss out on this honor by walking in the way of the world.

Posted at: https://unlockingthebible.org/2019/09/5-surprising-truths-biblical-kindness/