The quality of being KIND refers first of all to God. Psalm 145:17 says, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.”
The NT brings out that kindness is a godly characteristic and as His people experience it, we are also to reflect it in being kind to others, even to our enemies . . .
Luke 6:35. “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.”
The purpose of God’s kindness is amazing! 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?”
Those who do repent continue to experience God’s kindness and are called to reflect it to one another as well. The Greek word is translated as gentle, easy, good and because it is a fruit of the Spirit and the way God is, then every instance where I am told to be kind tells me what God is like in His kindness.
1 Corinthians 13 says His love is patient and kind, without envy or boasting. Ephesians 4:32 tells me to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave me. His kindness is tender, forgiving.
From Colossians 3:12–13 I can see that God is holy, beloved, compassionate, kind, even humble and meek, patient with me and forgiving so “as the Lord has forgiven (me), so (I) also must forgive.” 1 Peter 3:8–9 is much the same. From it I can see that God’s kindness includes unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Also, I’m not to retaliate but bless others, even if they slander me. I am called to be like God who is kind to all.
2 Timothy 2:24–26 backs this up adding that I’m not to be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting any opponents with gentleness. These verses also remind me that God may perhaps grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth through my acts of kindness. This means kindness can bring them to their senses and enable them to escape from the devil’s snare.
Being kind means being gentle, even like a nursing mom with her little ones (1 Thessalonians 2:7). It also means sticking to it even in trials and persecution.
2 Corinthians 6:3–10. “We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Seeing that God is like the person He calls me to be is motivational. He puts in my heart a desire to be like Him and the Holy Spirit who enables that to happen. He also shows me that those who do not have the Spirit of God cannot produce this kindness (Romans 3:12 says: “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”) hence when Christians are kind to them it can be startling, even dumbfounding and produce in them a desire to turn from their inability to be kind. Oh Lord, this is important. Help me focus on being like You!
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