We live in a dog-eat-dog world. Where people take what's wrong and make it seems right. It seems like cruelty beget cruelty. Some people just get off on being cruel to others. Then those who has been mistreated by the cruelty of others, develops into a whole bunch of new cruel people. Thereby creating a new cruel set of people, being cruel to other people who end up being cruel, just because they can be.
Cruelty is like a thread that is being weaved through the being of mankind. We live in a society that thinks it okay to achieve your dreams and establish your goals by any means necessary. When things go wrong in our lives, it seems like revenge is the best plan. Like we are living in a world of "us vs. them" or "me vs. you."
What has happened to our world? Where is the love and kindness that Jesus has commanded us to show toward one another? God wants us to love each other. He even wants us to be kind toward our enemies, and that is so very hard to do. "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and you reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil." (Luke 6:35)
The word "love" is mentioned 310 times in the King James Bible. The word "kindness" is mentioned forty times. The word "lovingkindness is mentioned thirty times.
We serve a God that is "Love" and shows great kindness toward us. As a Christian, our journey and desire, should be to be more like Christ.
So what is love? The dictionary definition of love is, "an intense feeling of deep affection." The word love describes an emotion with different degrees of intensity. There are different forms of love; parental love, romantic love, self-love, and the love mentioned in the Bible, spiritual love. There are four forms of love found in the Bible. They are Greek words, Eros (romantic love), Storge (family love), Philia (love for fellow humans), and Agape (God's divine love).
The love mentioned in the Bible, agape love, Jesus demonstrated it first! He is the reason we even know what love really is. He displayed love toward us when He laid down His life for us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Now that's love!
What is kindness? Kindness is defined as: the quality of being kind, treating people with kindness and respect: the quality or state of being gentle and considerate. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. "As is is written, 'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). We are to be kind toward each other. Why? Because God is kind to us. He commands for us to be kind. As Christians, it is our duty. Kindness is a form of love.
1 Corinthians 13:4, marries love with kindness, as love is being patient and kind, "Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up."
But what has happen to love and kindness? Love and kindness equals, "lovingkindness." Lovingkindness is a demonstration and heartfelt out pouring of mercy, goodness, kindness, brotherly love, compassion, pity and so much more.
God's relationship with us is rooted deeply in His lovingkindness. I know sometimes in life you may not feel love nor kindness, but God will always love you and show great kindness toward you. Because lovingkindness is who God is. His lovingkindness has no expiration date and He is not stingy with it. His lovingkindness gives us deliverance and redemption. Because of our relationship with Him, His lovingkindness provides us with guidance, forgiveness, protection and sustenance. God commands us to imitate His Son, Jesus Christ. How? "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Through the act of "LOVINGKINDNESS!"
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