“When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...” (Tit.3:4). “The kindness of God leads you to repentance…” (Rom.2:4). “Clothe yourselves with… kindness” (Col.3:12). “The fruit of the Spirit is… kindness” (Gal.5:22). “Show kindness and mercy to one another” (Zech.7:9). “Kindness is on her tongue” (Prov.31:26)
Lord Jesus, no matter how many carbs I cut and crunches I do, I’m never going to have “6-pack abs.” But, hallelujah, one Day my (our) whole being will be transformed, “toned,” and filled with your kindness. Hasten that Day. As the Scriptures above make clear, we’re never more like you than when we have kindness in our hearts and on our tongues. Help us, free us, change us.
In our most irritation-fueling moments, conflict-laden situations, and grace-needy relationships, there is always a kinder way forward. No one can make us snarky, mean, and spiteful. Those are choices we make, just like the choice to be filled and controlled by your Holy Spirit.
On this June Monday, whatever attire we’re donning for the day, we remain under-dressed until we clothe ourselves with your kindness (Col. 3:12). Not the external kindness of “southern niceness” but the revolutionary kindness our Father gives to “the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35)—the epiphany-like kindness we experienced the day you saved us (Tit.3:4). All day and weeklong, help us think, feel, speak, and act in line with the truth of the Gospel today (Gal. 2:14). So Very Amen.