Attributes of Affecting others with the Love of Jesus!

The main problem in understanding kindness is the fact that it is one of a series of terms that are overlapping and not clearly or consistently distinguishable in meaning. This is true not only in English (kindness, goodness, mercy, pity, love, grace, favor, compassion, gentleness, tenderness, etc.) but also in Greek (chrēstos, eleēmōn, oiktirmōn, charis, agapē, splanchnon, epieikeia, etc.) and in Hebrew (ḥesed, ṭōb, raḥămim, ḥemlah, ḥēṇ, etc.). Consider, for example, the relationship of love, goodness, kindness, and mercy in Luke 6:35–36. Nevertheless, although distinctions are not consistent, kindness (like goodness, love) tends to cover a broad range of meaning, with mercy and grace being progressively narrower.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 8291 kindness

kindness

The quality of compassion and generosity, characteristic of God’s dealings towards the weak and poor, and demanded of believers. The kindness is also shown in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.

Yet human imitation of God’s kindness does not come naturally. In fact, ultimately no one is kind (; ). It is only as the fruit of God’s Spirit that kindness can be a consistent part of the believer’s experience ().

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 6

“If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

True kindness is doing good for someone and not expecting anything in return.

Doing good to others is relatively easy. We all enjoy helping others. The difficult thing is to expect nothing in return. We live in a “you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.” This is not the kindness Paul is talking about in Colossians. It is very difficult not to expect anything in return. for example if we do something nice for someone and they don’t even say thank you. If your feelings are hurt or you tell someone they didn’t even thank you than that is not an act of true kindness. You expected a thank you for your good deed. Another example is that we help someone that we know cannot repay us, but expect God to bless us for doing it. This is not kindness because we are doing it for the blessing of God. True kindness is doing something good for someone and not expecting anything in return.

We must be humble!

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Humility

HUMILITY The personal quality of being free from arrogance and pride and having an accurate estimate of one’s worth.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

3 Do nothing from aselfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

3 Do nothing from aselfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

True humility is valuing others more than you value yourself. A spirit of humility will be willing to sacrifice for others. It does not have a “me first” attitude. Rather than having an entitlement mindset it has a grateful heart. Instead of saying “why does not give me this?” it says “I am grateful that God would give me anything.”

True humility can only come when we view ourselves in light of Christ. He is perfection and we are not. When we begin to judge others, we place ourselves in a position of authority over them. This is not a spirit of humility. A spirit of humbleness is understanding and gently guides people to truth.

Matthew 18:4 NASB95

4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:4

Humility has a sense of dependency. Just as a child depends on their parents for everything, so we too must trust in Jesus for everything. Tell story of great missionary. “What makes him so great is how much he needs us!”

We must be gentle with others

Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology Gentleness

Gentleness. Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love.

Galatians 6:1 NASB95

1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

A gentle person is motivated by love for others. They can take a volatile situation and make it calm. This is the type of person that doesn’t get rattled easily. They can answer a harsh word with a complimentary answer.

What's prettier than freckles

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. "You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful." The boy looked up, "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles." The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face and softly whispered, "Wrinkles.

http://www.wisdomcommons.org/virtue/58-gentleness/lifestories

A burnt toast

When I was a little one, my mom likes to make breakfast and dinner every day.

And I remember one night in particular when she had made dinner aftera long, hard day at work. On that evening, my mom placed a plate ofegg, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad.

I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed it. Yet all my dad didwas reach for his toast, smile at mom and ask me how my day was atschool. I don't remember what I told him that night but I do rememberwatching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite?

When I got up from the table I heard my mom apologize to my dad forburning the toast. And I'll never forget what he said "Baby, I loveburned toast"!

Later that night, I went to kiss daddy and say good night and I askhim if he really liked his toast burned!

He wrapped me in his arms and said

"Dear, your mamma put in a hard day at work today and she's realtired, And besides a little burnt toast never hurt anyone.

You know life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.

I'm not the best housekeeper or cook. "

http://www.wisdomcommons.org/virtue/58-gentleness/lifestories

We must be patient with one another.

Dictionary of Bible Themes 8318 patience

patience

The quality of forbearance and self-control which shows itself particularly in a willingness to wait upon God and his will. Believers are called upon to be patient in their expectations of God’s actions, and in their relationships with one another.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Patience

Patience. Ability to take a great deal of punishment from evil people or circumstances without losing one’s temper, without becoming irritated and angry, or without taking vengeance. It includes the capacity to bear pain or trials without complaint, the ability to forbear under severe provocation, and the self-control which keeps one from acting rashly even though suffering opposition or adversity.

1 Timothy 1:16 NASB95

16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

1 timothy

Paul recognized that he was the chief of all sinners and that Christ had exercised tremendous patience with him.

We must exercise the same patience with others that Christ exercises with us. How much patience has the Lord given to you? I cannot accurately answer this, because it is more than i even know. A good measure for me to extend patience is all the time.

A Short Story: Practicing Patience

A man observed a woman in the grocery store with a three year old girl in her basket. As they passed the cookie section, the little girl asked for cookies and her mother told her no. The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss.The mother said quietly, “Now Monica, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don’t be upset. It won’t be long.” Soon they came to the candy aisle, and the little girl began to shout for candy. And when told she couldn't have any, began to cry.The mother said, “There, there, Monica, only two more aisles to go, and then we’ll be checking out.” When they got to the check-out stand, the little girls immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there would be no gum purchased.The mother patiently said, “Monica, we’ll be through this check out stand in 5 minutes and then you can go home and have a nice nap.” The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her.“I couldn't help noticing how patient you were with little Monica,” he said. Whereupon the mother said, “I’m Monica . . . my little girl’s name is Tammy.”

http://agoodschool.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-short-story-practicing-patience.html

And that's my prayer for today that we will learn to take the good,the bad, and the ugly parts of our life and lay them at the feet ofGod because in the end He's the only One who will be able to give us arelationship where burnt toast isn't a deal-breaker"

Related Media

Related Sermons