Kindness

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Tabitha is not remembered because she was raised from the dead(Acts 9). She is celebrated in this statement, “…this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did” (v36). By it she helped convert many in Joppa.

A country may have great buildings and famous attractions, but it’s not worth living in if it lacks kindness. Last year it was reported that there is an epidemic of meanness in our society. Many people seem to go out of their way to hurt and humiliate others. It was the same in ancient Israel, and it disgusted God. Through Micah He said they must learn to “do justice and to love kindness” (Mic.6:8).

Think back and remember the times in your life when people were kind to you when your behavior demonstrated you were hardly worth it. That’s what God did for us through Jesus Christ. In Titus 3:3 we’re reminded that we were once busy “spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” Then something happened that changed everything. “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared…” (v4). Kindness is what motivated God to send us a Saviour. And now we are to love kindness. “Put on a heart of compassion and kindness” (Col.3:12). Put away meanness, learn to practice kindness, and live the way Jesus did when He was in this mean old world. He was kind to people – even on the cross. It saved the world. How will you treat people this week?

– Tim Johnson