“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
That little phrase “And be ye kind one to another” is not optional. It doesn’t say that we should be kind if the mood suits us. It doesn’t say we should be kind if we are treated kindly first. It doesn’t say that we should be kind if there is something to be gained for ourselves. It simply commands that God expects us to be kind one to another. Years ago I was invited to speak at church far from home (this is what I did on most weekends for over ten years as the Vice President of Baptist Church Planters.) PowerPoint was fairly new to many churches, and the pastor wanted me to bring my laptop and projector and use them along with PowerPoint in the class I would teach for Sunday school. I was excited about the opportunity to teach and preach God’s Word. I was so profoundly thankful for the privilege of being a guest speaker in this church. I was busy setting up my equipment and silently praising the Lord as people began to fill in the seats. After a few moments a man approached me. “You the preacher for today?” he asked. “Why, yes I am,” I replied as I extended my hand. He kept his hands at his side and said, “I’ve been watching as you set your stuff up. You’ve been smiling the whole time. I never trust anyone who smiles so much,” and with that he walked away. That probably made the top ten awkwardly unkind moments that I’ve ever experienced. The takeaway from this is that our actions will be remembered. May we be remembered for being kind one to another.
For today: Watch how many opportunities the Lord will bring to you today to be kind to someone!