We forgive because God has first forgiven us. Similarly, we show kindness because God has first shown kindness to us. Being nice, being pleasant and agreeable with others is nice, but kindness, especially that which conforms to God’s kindness, is much deeper.

“Kindness" is a word that means to furnish what is suitable to a need. As James would instruct, don’t just say be warm, be filled, have a nice day, and walk away. Instead, from a disposition of love be useful and provide as you are able to do so.

That is just the response of God toward us - “Kindness in short [being] God’s beneficial provision that meets the need of sinful man in this life and the life to come.”

Sounds nice (ha ha), but we often struggle with showing kindness. To see and meet needs often requires us to regard others as more important than ourselves. Sometimes we avoid what is truly kind because we fear how the other will respond.

To encourage our hearts, let us consider our Father’s future, past, and present kindness so that by his grace, kindness may be produced in us for his glory.

Future Kindness

I have always appreciated those who have looked backwards from the “what is to come” to gain perspective on the “what is present.” There is an amazing statement of God’s intent for the life to come in Ephesians 2:4-7:

God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (ESV)

It is an unfathomable thought that all eternity will not exhaust God’s desire to show his covenantal loving kindness toward his people. The need for mercy will end, but the show of his kindness will continue from age to age.

Past Kindness

We know through the gospel that the immeasurable kindness to be shown in the future required the service of Jesus Christ in the past. Our future enjoyment is only assured and secured through Jesus Christ entering the world in kindness to free us from the guilt and shame our sin deserved. Titus 3:4-5 says:

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, (ESV)

Through the service of Christ’s life and death, peace with God, new life, and membership in God’s household has been provided for all who would put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Present Kindness

A future expectation, a past redemption; what about this present life? Gifted by God, the Holy Spirit is now working to produce the fruit of kindness in our hearts and lives (Galatians 5:22). As we grow in conformity to the image of Christ, we have the joy of entering God’s kindness by being useful to others.

Once again, for our joy, and God’s glory, that many thanks would be given to God. And when we fall short of being kind, God reminds us that he has provided for that also in the gospel.

As Pastor Pat recently commented, there are many ways to be kind to others, to be useful and serviceable to them in demonstration of God’s kindness. Remember also, the ultimate kindness, the kindness of first priority, is to tell non-believers and believers alike of God’s kindness to provide for the forgiveness of sin and an everlasting righteousness in the presence God through Jesus Christ.