Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
When an act of kindness comes to an end, does that mean that the kindness has ended? Are there any boundaries around the person who is reaching out in kindness? Is there any way to measure how kindness affects another person? If you cannot see people reacting to your kindness, does that mean you should stop?
The answer to the first three questions is no. True kindness has no boundaries, no limits, and no end, but depends mostly on how the person receives it. That is why the answer to the fourth question is also a no, because being kind is not supposed to be a competition or a way to garner points for the future.
Too often some people view kindness as weakness or something to be exploited. They can act harshly or use it as an opportunity to take advantage of a situation leaving you hurt of bewildered. When this happens, it can cause you to hesitate or change how you act the next time which can now start other feelings to form.
It is regretful when we let anything influence how we act or treat each other. If we seriously think about it, when we don’t know a person for ourselves there is no reason to be rude to that person. Even if you think you know someone or they hurt you in some way, you still have a choice on how you treat them.
I spent many years of my life being part of a world collective that wanted to treat people by some preconceived norm. But with so many people in this world I guess we can make up ways to divide them into separate categories or groups. After thousands of generations, we are truly mixed and intercultural around the world that many criteria we use don’t fit.
Sit and look at the world around you. Not the people or the manmade structures, but nature. If you can’t observe the beauty of open natural spaces, you should at least be able to see the wondrous colors that light up the sky. Just watch how they mix together in perfect harmony and bring such beauty. We don’t try to separate the different hues, we just enjoy it.
So why do we come up ways to divide everyone? Remember that people are people. We have those who are more likeable or undesirable no matter what group you try to form. Just like we may have a preferred color in the evening sky. Think of how much of a day can be wasted when you stop to think how you are going to treat someone and even if it is only a split second it is still too much.
We can gain so much time if you throw the judgement out the window and just treat everyone the same. Most people have heard of the golden rule but were not aware that it comes from scripture. Matthew 7:12, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Or if you prefer, Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
It was not until I came back to Christ that I let the true nature of these scriptures really sink in and change my life. God makes everyone different and unique and it is not for us to judge His creation. We actually need to embrace those differences because each person has value no matter how the world sees them and adds to the tapestry that surrounds us.
I was reminded recently that the change God made in me long ago was noticed. I was not looking for accolades or to gain anything, I just began to treat those around me as I should have been. It did not matter who the person was or what other people thought, I tried to reflect the kindness that Christ showed others in everything I did and it made a difference.
Kindness is listed in the character of a new man in Colossians 3:12 and one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. Kindness can break down all those artificial barriers that we and society build around us that don’t need to be there. If you don’t know where to start, how about just a smile or kind words. Either can brighten someone’s day.
Even as I embraced this life altering change, I did still struggle in one area. Showing kindness to those who have hurt me in the past or has done something to lose my trust. It took a while, but I did finally embrace what Jesus told us in Luke 6:27, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”
It made me feel more at peace by simply letting it go and praying for those people. I did however enter the realm of the questions at the beginning. Saying good morning to someone who tried getting you in trouble gets you a resentful look even though the intention is to be cordial. But again, you cannot choose how a person reacts to your kindness.
Remember some may be lost, broken, or hurting and need help to uncover who they can become. This is why we need to be reflecting the love and kindness that Christ showed us during His life so that others can know Him and the love He has for each of us. We are all made in His image and God does not make mistakes.
So, join me in showing kindness to everyone around you no matter who they are. Because we are all God’s children and kindness has no color. Now also please enjoy, “Made In The Image Of God.”
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
Sitting watching all the different people as they’re walking by,
Reminds me of the many streaks of color in the morning sky.
Some have large swaths while others show their tint only slightly,
But they all come together in harmony and shine ever so brightly.
Everywhere in the world around us nature blends peacefully together,
Seems when man gets involved we are always at odds with each other.
The hurtful words and destruction never seem to stop,
The mountains just grow taller and everyone wants to be on top.
When Jesus walked among the people he showed us how to live,
He reached out in loving kindness and taught us how to forgive.
It did not matter who you were or if society gave you a label,
To Jesus all were equal and were welcomed at His table.
This is the example of acceptance that we all should try to mirror,
Instead of pushing people away we need to be bringing them nearer.
The Lord’s kindness is contagious when we share it with others abroad,
Fore we all are brothers and sisters in Christ, Made In The Image Of God.
Simple Faith Christian
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Simple Faith Christian 