God's Kindness Towards Us
Part 1
“Being Kind Beyond Expectations”
“God’s Power to help us to be Kind and Loving”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- John 13:34,35
“Kindness”
Our response to God’s love
[Love, Compassion, Goodness, Mercy]
Example: Mother Teresa
Kindness often finds a place in the lists of Christian virtues
“Love is patient, love is kind.”
-1 Corinthians 13:4
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
-Ephesians 4:32
Be like Jesus to others.
There is always a need for kindness
“When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
“God’s Kindness Beyond Expectations”
“He saved us through… Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 …having been justified by his grace…” be careful to devote… to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”
–Titus 3:4-8
I see two things in this verse…
1.God’s kindness “beyond expectation” is defined here by the word “Grace”.
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
2.The truth that the kindness that you show will also benefit yourself.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
-Luke 6:38
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
-Matthew 5:7
There are two ways to be “profitable”
One is selfish and one is not.
1.Selfishly take advantage of others.
2.Do good to others.
“Be careful to devote… to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”
–Titus 3:4-8
The first thing that you can do to be kind to yourself,
is to be kind to others.
Some quotes:
"Be good to yourself."
"Give yourself permission to be kind to yourself."
"Be the person your dog thinks you are."
Dogs don’t usually put boundaries on their owners.
Too often we are giving of ourselves in kindness to others who are demanding that we do so. They put boundaries or expectations on us.
At times it it might be the KINDEST thing NOT to give them what they are expecting or demanding of us.
We have all heard the phrase
“Tough Love”
Willingness to do tough things out of a heart of love.
What it looks like:
It hurts.
“This hurts me more than it hurts you.”
“Tough Kindness”
What it looks like:
Setting the boundary that I will only give “Hand ups”, not “Hand outs”
“Tough Forgiveness”
What it looks like:
It is true that I forgive you, it is also true that you can expect consequences if it ever happens again.
It may even mean that there will never be a “next time”.
(Cut them off immediately)
Whether you are the GIVER or the RECEIVER of Kindness, it feels good.
Do unto others
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you… 33 If you do good [Kind] to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that… 35 But love your enemies, do good [Kind] to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be [Seen by others as being] children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
–Luke 6:31+
“God causes [Demonstrates KINDNESS] his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
–Matthew 5:45
“Kindness Grace” b/c it goes BEYOND THE EXPECTED
The source of kindness is God.
“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”
-Psalm 145:9
“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
-Colossians 3:12
Be like Jesus to others.
It is in our best interest to be kind
Solomon said…
“Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”
-Proverbs 11:17
God’s Kindness is in you
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
-Galatians 5:22
YOU ALREADY HAVE IT. Let it out!
Kindness sometimes comes easy.
Kindness sometimes comes hard.
Kindness Involves Making a Choice
What makes someone truly kind is that they keep choosing [When it doesn’t come easy] to be kind.
“Random act of kindness”
How do they make people feel?
What did you feel? [Satisfied, Elated, Happy?]
What will [in the future] you feel?
A: The same way God feels when He shows you his kindness
Be Jesus to others [Mirror Him]
We can feel the same way that God does when He shows you his kindness to us.
“He’s always Jesus to you.”
“Be Jesus to others.”
[Mirror Him, Reflect him]
You and others will be glad that you did.
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