Be Kind to One Another

One Another

Be Kind To One Another

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

It seems that we are living in an age of rage

“Kindness is a language that deaf people can hear and that blind people can see.”

Some Observations

1. Kindness is Supernatural

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV)

2. Kindness is an Expression of love

“Love is patient and kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV)

3. Kindness is Powerful

“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, ESV)

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4–7, ESV)

4. There is a Distinction between kindness and niceness

Niceness involves doing something that is pleasing or agreeable.  It is often culturally conditioned.

Kindness is doing something that is helpful to others.  It is not merely an external change of manners; it is an internal change of heart.

“Niceness may be pleasant, but it lacks conviction. It has no soul. Niceness trims its sails to prevailing cultural winds and wanders aimlessly, standing for nothing and thereby falling for everything. Kindness is certainly not aggression, but it’s also not niceness. Niceness is cosmetic. It’s bland. Niceness is keeping an employee in the job, knowing he’s no longer the right fit therefore failing him and the company because you don’t have the courage to do the kind thing. Kindness calls you to tell him he’s not the person for the position and then dignify him in the transition.” Barry Corey

Jesus was always Kind, but he was not always “Nice”

What Kindness Is

1. Kindness is Meeting Needs (29)

It is meeting the needs of other people instead of Your Own

It is not primarily about what Pleases people but what Benefits them

2. Kindness is Personal Involvement (32)

Two Aspects:

• Vulnerable Transparency

• Unconditional Constancy

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:12–15, ESV)

3. Kindness is about how we See People (30)

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, ESV)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28–29, ESV)

“to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.  It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.

But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory

How You Can Get Kindness

1. We must believe that Christ Died In Our Place (32)

2. We must believe that God has Forgiven Our Sin (5:2)

3. We must believe that we are Loved By God (5:1)

“Because he died on the cross, the kindness of Jesus humbles you because it shows you were so bad he had to die for you, but it affirms you because it shows you’re so valuable he wanted to die for you. When you put those two things together, then and only then will you be able to live a life of love.”  Tim Keller

Questions To Consider:

• Have I responded to the kindness of God by repenting of my sin and placing my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the forgiver of my sin and the rightful leader and Lord of my life?

• How has the kindness of others marked my life in a positive way? How has the absence of kindness wounded me?

• Who are the people in my life that God wants to express His kindness to through me? How practically will I do this?  What is one specific step I will take?

• Spend time reviewing the teaching above. Begin making any adjustments that you sense God is directing you to begin to live out in your life and relationships.

Ready to take your Next Step?

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