When reading about the restoration of the Israelites in Jeremiah, Jeremiah 31:2-3 caught my attention – "This is what the LORD says: "The people who survive the sword will find favour in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel. The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."
Hosea 11:4 states – "I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes /ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them." Contemporary Eng- version = "I led them with kindness and with love, not with ropes. I held them close to me; I bent down to feed them."
In the Bible, the root word for kindness in the Old Testament is "chesed" (חֶסֶד) in Hebrew + it also includes concepts like love, mercy, and faithfulness. In the New Testament, the primary word for kindness is "chrēstotēs" (χρηστότης) in Greek + it's often translated as goodness, gentleness, or benignity. (Tolerance towards others).
Titus 4:3-7 says – "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
It seems that kindness and love are tied together like cords in a rope….one cannot do without the other. It made me ask myself – "How kind am I? Do I show love by being kind or show kindness by being loving?" Kindness takes up residence in us the minute we surrender to Christ's love. In Isaiah 54:10 various translations use either love or kindness – "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love/kindness for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you."
Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law" Galatians 5:22-23.
Isaiah 54:8 states – "In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the Lord your Redeemer." This is God's promise to Israel. It is His character. Out of the kindness of His heart He has compassion on His children and redeems our mistakes and failures.
Sometimes kindness is not easy, but it is demanded from us. One definition of kindness which I read says – "Kindness is humbly giving of ourselves in love and mercy to others who may not be able to give anything back, who sometimes don't deserve it, and who frequently don't thank us for it…"
Colossians 3:12 says- "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
So, as we pray today - in kindness and love towards those we pray for, let us remember what Abba Father's love shown through Jesus Christ cost Them. THAT love remains unending, everlasting, faithful and true! Jesus said in John 15:16 – "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My Name."
Myrtle Grimm-Turunen
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