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LOVE IS KIND...

Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
-Romans 11:22 NIV

Those who are kind benefit themselves,
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
-Proverbs 11:17 NIV

Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
-Job 6:14 NIV

I bet when you read that this post was about kindness, you were under the impression that I would be talking about loving people and being kind to all people and skipping on pretty rainbows.

Think again.

Showing kindness to others is more than a suggestion. The Bible says that love itself is kind. If you love others, and if you love ALL people like the Bible commands, then you must be kind as well.

I think often times people think that it's fine to get angry and snap at people, just as long as you love them at the end of the day. But kindness is much more serious than that-- you should probably make a conscious effort to be kind, just like you do to be pure, set apart, etc.

Believe it or not, the Bible also says that those who are kind benefit themselves! You don't have to be kind just because the Bible says so... being kind will benefit you, the Bible says.

Try not to have a temper, or be short-minded with others. It may be difficult, and it is a struggle for everyone to be kind to others. But I always shoot back to the famous question of "What would Jesus do?"

Would Jesus get mad because a car in front of Him didn't use his/her turn signal? Would He be stingy with His time and efforts when it comes to helping others? Would He take the last cookie without asking others if they wanted it?

I know it seems stupid to think about, but loving is a command. The Bible clearly states that

Love is patient, love is kind...
-1 Corinthians 13:4

So go love people today, and be so kind that you even inspire Mrs. Butterworth to be nicer.

Dear God,

People can be jerks sometimes. We still love them, but sometimes we just want to snap at them, and give them a taste of their own figurative medicine. Please be with us, God, and move through us to make clean, kind choices. Help us love others with our actions and inspire others to do the same, even in the toughest of times.

Thanks for loving us, God, even when we make mistakes.

Amen.

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