1 Peter 2:1-3  “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” (NLT)

—

One fruitful and enlightening way to understand Bible books like 1 Peter is to identify which key words are repeated. For example, Peter uses the words, Kind, Kindness, and Unkindness several times. Once you notice the words Kind and Kindness in the Bible, you begin to see them everywhere.

For example:

Proverbs 11:17: “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”

Proverbs 21:21: “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.”

Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Colossians 3:12: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, love is kind.”

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Luke 6:35: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

Similar to the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter provides us with representative characteristics to take off and others to put on as we experience more and more of God’s amazing grace. He specifically says here,  

Among the rags we remove is Unkind Speech. Your grandmother was right. If you can’t say something nice (or kind), don’t say anything at all.”

Then he says, “Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

God’s kindness nourishes us so that we may, in turn, nourish others. 

Again, being a jerk for Jesus is not a biblical option. Recall Romans 2:4:

Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Winning arguments with powerful speeches may feel good, but they seldom do good for those on the receiving end. Kindness is key to unlocking hearts and minds. God practices kindness, restraint, and patience to lead us to repentance. This should rearrange our approach to those who need to know and experience him.

Today is Tuesday. Let’s rename it as we move forward into the School of Kindness. We’ll call it Kindday. This will remind us how to begin conversations and how to end them. This will guide our lead actions and responses. God’s kindness will make us more gentle and peaceful. These are the kinds of characteristics that make people like us, love us, and trust us. 

I’m praying you are going to have a great Kindday. Let me know how it goes.

—

I will lead, follow, and get out of the way with kindness.

—

Our Father, your love is patient and kind. May my love reflect this reality. Build your kindness into my heart and mind, my lead actions and my responses. Make every day a Kindday. Amen.