Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV
Looking again at the beginning of this passage, we see that love is kind. This is closely connected to God’s patience; God’s kindness is the outward sign of His patience.
Look at it this way. In my head, patience is often connected with not doing things – not losing my temper or getting upset, not rebuking somebody, not cutting somebody out of my life, even when they hurt me repeatedly. God shows His patience to me in the same way. He still loves me and calls me His child through Jesus, even though I have messed up and hurt Him so often.
On the other hand, I think of kindness more as active. Someone who is kind is considerate, helpful, and giving. I’ve experienced kindness through people giving of their time and talents to help me do things without being asked. This includes big things like spring cleaning in my house or shoveling my walk. But there are lots of little things as well, like a rose in my mailbox to let me know that I am loved or a card or text to let me know that someone was thinking of me. Kindness is love in action.
Unexpected kindness can keep me going on those days when I can’t seem to do anything right and I’m feeling down about myself. Kindness, especially on those bad days, tells me somebody loves me and believes in me. Kindness encourages me to pick myself up and try again.
This how God shows His love for us, by giving us unexpected, undeserved blessings to help us through each day. His kindness to us is most powerfully demonstrated in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (See Titus 3:4-6 and Ephesians 2:4-7.) When I really understand all the kindness God has shown me through Jesus, I am encouraged to keep going, living for Him the best way I can, showing His kindness to others.
Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? - Romans 2:4 NLT
Think About: How have you experienced God’s kindness recently? How does thinking about God’s kindness encourage you?
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