BE KIND

Go on any social media platform these days and you will find some sort of quote about being non-judgmental such as:

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” -Socrates

Of course, if you fact check this quote, the “all-knowing” internet will also tell you that Socrates did not really write that down. Neither did Plato. Just like Abraham Lincoln is often credited with inspirational as well as silly quotes that he did not say, any historical person of note seems to be credited with quotes no one really quoted them in saying.

However, the world is sad and crying. So we can find a recurring theme: BE KIND.

Our world is not kind. It will tell you that we must go grab life. We must not expect fairness. The one who holds the most toys wins. Bullies are everywhere. Every man for himself. It is a dog eat dog world – so don’t be caught wearing Milk Bone underwear!

In Colossians 3:11-12, the Bible tells us:
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Before and after Jesus died on the cross and rose again, salvation was by grace through faith, and righteousness is given to anyone who believes in God and in His Holy Word. We are a chosen people. Though we are by no means perfect, God uses the humans He loves to bring about good. To bring about change. To share His Word and His Love. To let everyone know of salvation. To do all of these things, we begin with KINDNESS.

The devil is working overtime trying to make this life more difficult, more dog-eat-dog, more stressful. He is trying to make us more busy, more worried, more angry, and more self-absorbed. We are seeing it in our family life. We are seeing it in our church. We are seeing it in our work life. It seems the devil is on overdrive nowadays. Watch the news. Read all those social media posts. They will tell you the same thing the Bible tells us. The devil feels his time is short and is working hard to provide stumbling blocks for all who are letting their guard down; those who are not clothed in righteousness and not putting on the full armor of God…..

The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith (to extinguish the arrows of the evil one), the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit (the Bible), and prayer. The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 18 that these are the essentials. These wonderful items help us fight the devil in all this daily life we face.

Along with the armor of God outlined by Paul in Ephesians, Jesus gives us these words in Matthew chapter 22, verses 37-40 when asked about which are the most important commandments:
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.

So……Jesus does a wonderful thing in the book of Matthew and sums up EVERYTHING. If we are loving the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind as we should, we will be making sure to put on the full armor of God daily. We will be in communion with Him. And…..if we love our neighbor as ourselves, we will be loving and kind to everyone just as God desires.

So…..whether Plato said it, Socrates said it, the internet told us, or we listen to the wonderful and truthful words of Jesus Christ our Savior, we must be kind and loving. Be kind. Love every person you come in contact with as yourself. That sums it up. Would you tell yourself that thing you just told your child in anger? Would you let anyone talk to your friend or spouse like that? Love God. Then love others. Be kind. I think you get it.

I am working on this EVERY day in this dog-eat-dog world. So…let us pray.

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for love and wisdom that comes from You alone. Please, God, help us to fight the devil’s schemes by drawing closer to You and by being immersed in the Bible and its teachings. We believe in You. We believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus is enough to give us salvation and righteousness. We believe that peace and truth come from walking with You. Help our faith in You to grow each day so we may keep the devil and his schemes at bay. We believe there is strength and unimaginable power in our prayers because You are God. THE God. Let us love you first, with all that is within us. And then may we love others. Help us to show kindness to the unlovable. Help us to love as You have loved us. True kindness is showing Your love every moment. Make us what You want us to be, and point out how we need to change, we pray.
In the precious name of Jesus,

Amen

Emily Kilby
Latest posts by Emily Kilby (see all)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *