Reflecting God's Kindness: A Call to True Goodness

Devotional

Day 1: Reflecting Divine Kindness

True kindness mirrors God's grace, extending love to all, regardless of their actions or gratitude. This divine kindness is rooted in God's character and challenges us to embody it in our lives. It is not based on the worthiness of the recipient but on the nature of God Himself. This kind of kindness is transformative, reaching out to those who are undeserving, just as God reached out to us when we were far from Him. It is a call to reflect God's kindness, which extends even to the ungrateful and the wicked. [01:23]

"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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:35, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life seems undeserving of kindness? How can you extend God's grace to them today, expecting nothing in return?

Day 2: Cultivating an Inner Disposition of Kindness

True kindness is not just a spontaneous act but an inner disposition cultivated by the Holy Spirit. It requires a heart transformed by grace, moving us beyond self-centeredness to genuine concern for others. This transformation is a fruit of the Spirit, challenging us to look beyond our natural inclinations and reflect God's character in our daily lives. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, we develop a kindness that is deep and transformative, not just a superficial niceness. [05:28]

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-centeredness? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your heart in these areas today?

Day 3: Kindness Beyond Gratitude

Our kindness should not be influenced by the gratitude or ingratitude of others. It is a reflection of God's grace, which is given freely and without expectation of return. This kind of kindness is beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth, where Boaz's kindness was a reflection of God's kindness. It challenges us to extend kindness to those who cannot repay us, embodying the grace that God has shown us. [10:00]

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you withheld kindness because it wasn't appreciated. How can you practice kindness today without expecting anything in return?

Day 4: Everyday Expressions of Kindness

The true test of kindness and goodness lies in our everyday interactions and responsibilities. It's in the mundane tasks where our character is revealed and where we can make a significant impact. The call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God is a powerful mandate that, if taken seriously, could transform our communities. Kindness and goodness are not just for grand gestures but are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. [17:42]

"Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane task can you approach with kindness today, seeing it as an opportunity to reflect God's character?

Day 5: The Lasting Legacy of Kindness

Kindness leaves a lasting legacy, remembered long after our words and deeds are forgotten. It is a vital evidence of our faith and a reflection of the life of Jesus, who went about doing good. Our kindness and goodness are not just actions but are integral to our witness as followers of Christ. As we embody kindness, we leave a legacy that points others to the eternal kingdom and the transformative power of God's love. [20:34]

"The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." (Proverbs 10:7, ESV)

Reflection: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? How can you begin to build that legacy through acts of kindness today?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through the scriptures today, we explored the profound nature of kindness and goodness as rooted in the character of God. Jesus, in the New Testament, calls us to reflect God's kindness, which extends even to the ungrateful and the wicked. This divine kindness is not just a superficial niceness but a deep, transformative grace that seeks out those who are undeserving, just as God sought us when we were far from Him. This kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated in our lives by the Holy Spirit, and it challenges us to look beyond our natural inclinations of self-centeredness.

We delved into the idea that true kindness is not merely about being nice to those who are nice to us. Instead, it is about embodying the character of God, who shows kindness to the ungrateful and the wicked. This kind of kindness is not influenced by the gratitude or ingratitude of others and is often extended to those who cannot repay us. We saw this beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth, where Boaz's kindness was a reflection of God's kindness.

Furthermore, we considered the impact of kindness and goodness in our everyday lives. It's in the routine and mundane tasks where our true disposition is tested. The call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God is a powerful mandate that, if taken seriously, could transform our communities. The expression of kindness and goodness is not just for grand gestures but is woven into the fabric of our daily interactions and responsibilities.

Finally, we reflected on the legacy of kindness. Long after our words and deeds are forgotten, the kindness we show will be remembered. This is the essence of the Christian life, as exemplified by Jesus, who "went about doing good." Our kindness and goodness are vital evidences of our faith and our hope in the eternal kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. centeredness to genuine concern for others. [05:28]
3. Kindness Beyond Gratitude: Our kindness should not be influenced by the gratitude or ingratitude of others. It is a reflection of God's grace, which is given freely and without expectation of return.

4. Everyday Expressions: The true test of kindness and goodness lies in our everyday interactions and responsibilities. It's in the mundane tasks where our character is revealed and where we can make a significant impact.

5. Legacy of Kindness: Kindness leaves a lasting legacy, remembered long after our words and deeds are forgotten. It is a vital evidence of our faith and a reflection of the life of Jesus, who went about doing good.

** [05:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - God's Kindness to All
[02:15] - The Soil of Kindness and Goodness
[03:24] - Disposition of Kindness
[05:28] - Beyond Self-Centeredness
[06:12] - A Spacewalk Illustration
[08:07] - True Kindness vs. Natural Virtue
[09:26] - Kindness and Forgiveness
[10:42] - The Story of Boaz and Ruth
[12:53] - Evangelical Impact of Kindness
[14:05] - Doing Justice and Loving Kindness
[16:43] - Everyday Kindness and Goodness
[18:26] - Expressions of Generosity
[19:14] - Barnabas: A Model of Kindness
[20:34] - The Lasting Legacy of Kindness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Profound Nature of Kindness and Goodness

Bible Reading:

Luke 6:35 - "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Ephesians 2:7 - "In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Observation Questions:

According to Luke 6:35, how does Jesus describe the nature of God's kindness? How does this challenge our natural inclinations? [01:23]
In Ephesians 2:7, what is the purpose of God showing His kindness to us in Christ Jesus? How does this relate to our understanding of grace? [01:58]
How does the story of Boaz and Ruth illustrate the concept of kindness beyond gratitude? What specific actions did Boaz take that reflected God's kindness? [10:42]
What does Micah 6:8 suggest about the relationship between justice, kindness, and humility in our walk with God? [13:46]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the kindness of God, as described in Luke 6:35, redefine our understanding of who deserves kindness? What implications does this have for our daily interactions? [01:23]
In what ways does the kindness of God, as expressed in Ephesians 2:7, serve as a model for our own expressions of kindness and goodness? [01:58]
How does the example of Boaz in the book of Ruth challenge us to extend kindness to those who cannot repay us? What does this teach us about the nature of true kindness? [10:42]
How can the mandate in Micah 6:8 to "act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly" be practically applied in our communities today? [13:46]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you showed kindness to someone who was ungrateful. How did it make you feel, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you continue to show kindness in similar situations? [09:09]
Identify a mundane task or routine interaction in your life where you can intentionally practice kindness. What specific steps will you take to make kindness a habit in these areas? [17:42]
Think of someone in your life who cannot repay your kindness. What is one specific act of kindness you can extend to them this week? [10:15]
How can you cultivate an inner disposition of kindness, as described in the sermon, rather than relying on spontaneous acts? What role does prayer and reflection play in this process? [05:28]
Consider the legacy of kindness you want to leave behind. What changes can you make in your daily life to ensure that kindness is a defining characteristic of your interactions? [20:34]
How can you incorporate the principles of Micah 6:8 into your personal and professional life? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them? [13:46]
Reflect on the story of Boaz and Ruth. How can you be a "Boaz" in your community, showing kindness and generosity to those in need? [10:42]

Sermon Clips

In fact, when you read in the New Testament, we jump forward to the New Testament, and Jesus is speaking, encouraging his followers to declare themselves to be truly his followers by the way in which they deal with individuals who are not like them at all. And he says in Luke 6 and verse 35 that God is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. [00:01:02]

In other words, in the age to come, in the new Heaven and in the new Earth, the Father will still be magnifying the wonder of his loving kindness towards us, expressed to us in Jesus, so that we will find ourselves actually saying to one another in whatever context, "Isn't it amazing that God was so kind to us?" [00:02:05]

Apart from the grace of God, each of us is preoccupied with our problems, our plans, our pleasures. People would say that's absolutely natural, and it is actually natural. And the reason it's so natural is because it's an evidence of our predicament in terms of turning our back on God. [00:03:39]

When grace begins to refine a heart, when this fruit is produced in a life of the child of God, then we begin to take more than a passing interest in the well-being of others. We're not talking here about sort of instantaneous notions of kindness, but rather we're talking about inner disposition, the disposition of heart. [00:05:11]

Remember, he says, if you simply are kind and good and loving to those who love you, there's no reward in that. He said you can find that at the local sports bar. You can find that in lots of places. No, he says, but what I want to say to you is I want you to learn to do what God does. [00:08:16]

Kindness and compassion and a forgiving spirit are woven together in the fabric of grace. I'm not a kind person if I hold on to grudges. I can't for a moment consider myself of a kindly disposition if I refuse to forgive. And the kindness that is produced in our lives, akin to the kindness of God, is then to be uninfluenced by the gratitude or ingratitude of those to whom we show kindness. [00:09:29]

When you think about it in terms of the wonderful story in Ruth, you've got a classic illustration, don't you, in Boaz. Lovely Boaz. A lot of the girls in the church are looking for a Boaz, I know, because I talk with them. They say, "Where is Boaz when you need him?" [00:10:37]

Imagine unleashing a force on the United States of America that is committed to loving kindness, that is able to go out into a community that is increasingly fractured, more and more self-centered, to discover the evangelistic impact of loving kindness. We need to say a word about goodness because our time is gone. [00:14:16]

The wonder of it is that God has ordered our steps and apportioned our lives so that the expression of kindness and goodness takes place in the routine affairs of life, in the menial tasks of life. You see, it's very easy. I remember you could get a real buzz when you were a boy going down the road and helping old Mrs. Jenkins. [00:16:41]

It is in the realm of everyday life that kindness and goodness is really tested. It's in the framework of our vacation that it is tested because nobody else sits at the desk you sit at except the person who sits beside you. But I don't. I can't. Therefore, it is in that realm that the kindness and goodness that is the fruit of the spirit then is able to spill over into your particular community. [00:17:36]

Few of us will do anything that is heroic like pull somebody from a burning car, and so we're tempted to say, "Well, what am I going to do?" Well, read 1 Timothy 5 if you're a lady and read there about the kindness and goodness that's involved in raising children, in showing hospitality, in helping those in trouble, in being ready for any good work. [00:18:24]

People will, after our sermons are long forgotten, after our mental cleverness, whatever it might be, has evaporated, people will remember kindness. They will always remember kindness. I guarantee you, you can remember school teachers on account of their kindness, a work colleague on account of kindness. [00:20:20]

Ask a question about this sermon