Let us join together and worship. Please join with me in singing, Heaven came down.
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Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 7
“But as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in earnestness, in love, see that you also excel in this act of grace.”
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Let us journey into a time of prayer, as we do, let us sing; Seek Ye First
Let us pray
Lord of unfailing love, my life is a living testimony to Your kindness and forgiveness. You redeemed me from an eternity separated from You when I did not deserve it. How then can I reflect unkindness toward anyone? Lord, do not let it be so in my life. Kindness is the instrument of my Holy God, and I want to become a skilled user. Grant me knowledge, discernment, and precision to use kindness to cut out hatred, racism, indifference, inequality, and all the other afflictions that run rampant in the human race. Use me, Lord, to lead out in Your kindness and to be Your catalyst for change. Amen.
Let us join together in the Lord's prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;
thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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Before we go to the word let us sing: Glorify Your Name
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Be Kind
The apostle Paul, a couple of thousand years ago, wrote this to his friends in a city called Corinth:
“But as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in earnestness, in love, see that you also excel in this act of grace.” (2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 7)
Just think about that. What if you and I were to excel in the act of grace? What if you and I were naturally gracious, forgiving, tolerant, accommodating, kind and generous to people who, surprise, surprise, constantly fall short of our expectations and needs. What a brilliant concept, excelling in grace and kindness. Being gracious and kind restores, it builds up, it tears down barriers, it opens hearts and minds, it does what grace always does, it brings people closer together. Excel in acts of grace and kindness because grace and kindness is one of the most amazing blessings you can give.
Let’s talk a little more about being kind.
When was the last time somebody was kind to you? It may only have been a little thing; can you remember what it was? let me ask you, when you think of that person how does that make you feel? There was once a man who became the pastor of a church in a small country town. It wasn’t easy. His wife and children had to live in another place for almost a year so the children could finish off their schooling. So, they spent almost a year living apart.
Very hard indeed. A few years later a friend went to see him. They had coffee together in the local coffee shop. Time after time, a variety of people stopped to talk to the pastor. It was remarkable how many people knew him in such a short period of ministry. I mean just after a few short years and being accepted into a small community like that can take much longer. His Church grew as well. We have to ask, how is this possible? How did he develop such recognition and respect and influence in such a short amount of time? Well, I’ll tell you what his secret was. He was kind.
You see, kindness is like a magnet. Kindness stands out like a beacon of light in the darkness of people’s world. People are drawn to that kindness. I believe that the best sort of kindness is the small, seemingly insignificant little things we do. Just those little things make such an incredible difference to the world, don’t they? The things you didn’t have to do, but you did them anyway. Kindness means taking time out to be kind. You see, kindness costs us something but when we make the time, when we make the effort just to be kind, when we set our schedule and our priorities aside to be kind that is such a blessing to people.
Let me bring to you some great wisdom on kindness from the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, chapter 11, verse 17:“A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” Pretty obvious isn’t it? When we’re kind we make a heart connection with people and our influence with them grows. If we’re not kind, if we’re cruel to people, they won’t even give us the time of day. Kindness is so simple yet so powerful. When we rejoice with those who rejoice, when we weep with those who weep, when we stop to smile, to have a kind word of encouragement, to help, to support, to comfort, we are being a blessing to others. I don’t think there’s anything smaller or anywhere near having the huge impact in someone’s life as a simple act of kindness.
Anything we can do to be a blessing to someone else, an act of kindness probably has the greatest return of all and you know where and when kindness is the most powerful, when we’re kind to someone who doesn’t deserve it, to someone who did wrong things by us the last time round. When you and I are kind to that person it speaks volumes to them about what’s going on in our hearts. Or perhaps to someone who hasn’t earned the right for us to be kind to them; someone who’s never done anything to deserve the kindness. Let me ask, who could you be kind to today, or tomorrow? With whom could you share a smile, a small word of encouragement? Who could you support or do something little for?
That act of kindness will speak something into that person’s heart that will lift them up today and can change their life tomorrow. That kindness has the power to light up someone’s day and their very life. Please remember, I’m talking to myself here as much as I am talking to you. Let us find it in us to be kind to someone as we travel along this path together. God’s will for us, is that we are kind to one another.
Listen to Ephesians 4, verse 23:
“Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other as God in Christ forgave you.” Also listen to Colossians chapter 3, verse 12: “Put on then as God’s people holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.”
When Jesus was flat out with public engagements some kids wanted to come close to Him. His disciples tried to shield Him like bouncers, protecting Him, protecting His sanity in His busy schedule. Let’s read the passage together:
“The little children were being brought to Him in order that He may lay hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them but Jesus said, ‘let the little children come to me and don’t stop them for it is such to these that the kingdom of heaven belong.’ He laid his hands on them and went on his way.” (Matthew, chapter 19, verses 13 to 15)
It’s in the very nature of God, in the very heart of God, to be kind to everyone, even the little children on a busy day. God has blessed you and me with many, many things. Even if some days we feel sort of, not blessed, it turns out, that that sort of godly kindness, the sort we spoke about with that new pastor earlier on, is surely something we can always find in our hearts, it’s always there and it’s such a mighty blessing to others. Let’s be kind and gracious to one another, tender hearted, just as Jesus is to you. It’s not that hard is it? Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other as God in Christ forgave you. Amen.
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Let us sing: My hope is built on nothing less
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
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