It’s Your Kindness, Lord

Be the change you want to see in the world.

- Mahatma Gandhi

As we dig more deeply into the fruits of the Spirit, I must continually remind myself that they are not of my own doing, but manifestations of the Holy Spirit at work in and through me. They are available to me because they are already characteristics of God. He desires for these traits to be active in me now, not when I get to Heaven.

He wants me to experience Heaven right now through His characteristics (the fruits of the Spirit) at work in and through me.  He wants me to experience and live out His kindness all the days of my life.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:12,

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Back in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s, I led a post-high school ministry called Epic. It was an extension of The Church at RB, but had its own unique style of worship and catered to a specific audience. One of my favorite worship songs of that time was written and sung by Chris Tomlin. It was simply called “Kindness.” The chorus went like this:

It’s Your kindness, Lord, that leads us to repentance

Your favor, Lord, is our desire

It’s Your beauty, Lord, that makes us stand in silence

Your love, Your love, is better than life.

Those words served to remind me that it is God’s kindness given to me that allows me to express kindness to others. Only the power of the Holy Spirit in me offers me the opportunity to make a difference in the world around me. I can only affect change in this world by being changed. It is God’s kindness that leads me to repentance and shapes me to be the person He desires me to be.

During these tumultuous times, may the kindness of God shape you and allow you to BE kindness to others.

Pastor Ken

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