Colossians 3:12 NLT
It's not a suggestion. He didn't say 'maybe'. He didn't say 'perhaps'. It's not contingent upon whether or not we feel like it. No, God chose us, therefore we MUST...
Don't confuse being nice with being kind. Nice is being polite. You don't have to like someone to be nice to them. But I believe you have to care in order to be kind.
Social media is causing us to be more socially inept than socially adept. I don't have to rehash any of the awful posts or tweets or IGs in an effort to support that statement. You know them. However, there are some good ones, as well. People who start campaigns for Random Acts of Kindness. Houses built for those who have lost theirs in a natural disaster. Supplies bought and delivered following a hurricane, earthquake, flood, tsunami, or some other disaster du jour, just to name a few.
It's about how we choose to live our lives - for the Lord or not. Yes, it's really that simple.
If we choose for the Lord, then we have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth (John 16:13). When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He changes us. According to Galatians 5:22-23a, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The way I see it, love, joy, peace, and patience are what cause KINDNESS to grow within us. Just like a garden needs to be cultivated in order to produce, we need to cultivate the fruits of the Holy Spirit so they will grow and live Lord-large in us. And we must be intentional about it.
When we are tempted to be less than kind, let's take a breath and remember that God provides His strength to help us walk in His ways. Galatians 5:24-25, And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Prayer:
Father,
Show us how best to cultivate the fruit You have placed in our lives. Help us to be Your ambassadors for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Live large in us so that the world sees You when they look at us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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