Love Is Kind

Love is kind. It’s not simply acts of kindness, but most importantly, it’s kindness when kindness is not deserved. It’s kindness when kindness is the more difficult option. It’s true kindness when it’s not our natural response and it takes all of the self-control in the world to silence our pride and selfishness and care for others with no strings attached, no grudge held, and no record of wrongs kept. That is the standard of love we are held to because that is the standard of love we have been shown from the start by God.


The original Greek word for kindness that would have been used by Paul here would have been “Kresteuomai” or “Chresteuomai” meaning “to be kind, loving, merciful.” One of the many wonderful attributes of our Heavenly Father is that He is kind. He shows us kindness daily in His mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). He shows us kindness in forgiveness and keeps no record of our sin. He shows us kindness by loving us first. John 13:34 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” He set the model of what real love was like and commanded us to love in the same way, with the same merciful kindness that He has shown us from the beginning of time.


True kindness is only natural when we start aligning our heart with God’s heart for the people around us. It’s been a useful tool for my heart to remember every person I encounter, even and especially those who hurt me, that Jesus died for them. They are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). They are a dearly loved child of the living God, bought with a price and being pursued and shaped and molded and most importantly, loved, daily by Him. It may not be a natural response of our flesh to be kind in circumstances where we have been wronged, but it’s the only holy response. True kindness of that nature, of turning the other cheek and responding in love, can only be obtained through the Spirit. There is a reason why it is a fruit of the Spirit. It is not something we can cultivate on our own.


Frederick Buechner once said, “If you want to be holy, be kind.” Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”


Ask today for the Holy Spirit to align your heart with His with love for the people you encounter.