Yesterday's devotion looked at the phrase 'love is patient' from 1 Corinthians 13:4. Today, we'll focus on another of the verse's important designations ... 'love is kind'.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
'Kindness' is characterized by an imparted spirit of tenderness. It is love in action ... a sympathetic, giving heart that helps others in need.
In the same way that 'patience' is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, 'kindness' is as well ... But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Don't be fooled by the world's shallow definition of 'love'. A man cannot be loving and unkind at the same time. A true believer has a life marked by kindness, which reveals God's character to those who don't know Him.
By nature, 'kindness' treats everyone gently ... regardless of his station in life. It has the power to draw unbelievers to the foot of the cross ... Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
Because of His great love, the Lord has chosen to bear with man's sinfulness until he has either accepted or rejected, the gift of salvation ... The Lord is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
May we be filled with a love that displays God's attribute of 'kindness'.
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