LOVE IS...KIND

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)

Not only is agape love long suffering, but it is also kind; even after it has suffered long. As I reflect on the life of Christ and all He chose to endure for us, I realize that even through it all; through the pain, the humiliation and rejection that He continued to love and show kindness to those who persecuted Him. The apostles, as they went out to preach the gospel, many times they too were persecuted, humiliated and rejected; how did they respond? Did they lash out at their attackers with hurtful words or with their fists? No, they walked as Jesus walked; they suffered long and returned kindness for the evil that was done to them.

As Christians, we can be certain that we too will face persecution and rejection. How we respond to that persecution and rejection either shares the love of Christ with the world or shows the world that we are no different than the lost. It is easy to respond in anger, seeking vengeance; after all, who would blame you? The world tells us we are justified to respond in anger and to seek vengeance when there is injustice or when we have been wronged by another; just look at some of our “Super Heroes” or our favorite action films. But to respond in kindness, showing agape love to those who persecute, humiliate and reject you requires more than what the world can offer. It requires Christ. I think Jesus said it best when he spoke these words to His disciples:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” – Matthew 5:38-41

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” – Matthew 5:43-46

The world walks in the flesh, but as disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to look different than the world; we are to walk in the Spirit. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but [how] to perform what is good I do not find.” – Romans 7:18 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” – Romans 8:5

This week, I challenge you to share the love of Christ with those who hurt you by returning evil with kindness.

COACH'S CALL TO ACTION

• Who in your life is it easy to be kind to? What makes it easy to be kind to them?
  
• Who in your life do you find it difficult to be kind to? What makes it difficult to be kind to them?
  
• Pray and ask the Lord to help you to love each of these people as He loves them; to willingly show each of them kindness.

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