 Sweet
We often use this term about the flavor of food to refer to things that we find pleasing. It may be that some friend has done something gracious for us and we respond “sweet.” At this moment we are pointing out the kindness that has been done for us. All of us like to have people show us kindness. Kindness is especially appreciated in the moments when we recognize the greatness of our need. Another way to say this is that during vulnerable and humbling experiences we are more likely to notice the kind things done by other people. Whether these people are those closest to us or complete strangers, we enjoy the sweetness of their kind attention. Preemptive Love One way that we could understand kindness is that it is preemptive love. What I mean by preemptive love is that it runs ahead of the parameters of the relationship or the response of the recipient. When we show kindness or are shown kindness it is not as a reward for our accomplishments or behavior, for that would be honor not kindness. Honor should always be given to the one deserving it (Romans 13:7), but kindness is the reward of the undeserving. It is carrying implicit grace. In this way, kindness is the preemptive expression of love. You have probably had experiences where you were shown kindness by complete strangers. In these instances, you have experienced this concept of kindness going beyond the parameters of the relationship. The person treated you as fitting another image bearer of God even if the relationship was not yet established to earn such privileged treatment. Kindness is also particularly sweet when it comes from someone who is not seeking repayment or someone who, to some degree, could not be repaid. Here, kindness is not shown in anticipation of some future reward but only as the right treatment of another human being. God’s Kindness In both of these instances kindness is a preemptive act of love for the humbled recipient. This is also how God shows kindness to us. God comes to us with preemptive love. The Apostle John tells us that we love God because He FIRST loved us (1 John 4:19). The Apostle Paul also reminds us that while we were still enemies of God, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:8). God clearly shows humanity abundant kindness before we have any relationship, reward, or response to offer. But Why? What is the purpose of God’s kindness? An exhaustive list of God’s purposes will only fully be known in the glory of eternity but I would like to consider two today. First, God shows us such abundant kindness because of the kind nature of who He is. God has revealed to us that He is full of loving kindness (Titus 3:4). This is a reference to His merciful nature that is an attribute of who God is. So God does not simply act kindly, but is Himself kind. The second aspect is that God’s kindness has an intention. Paul again tells us that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God intends to bring us to the point of repentant saving faith, not through wrathful threats but by demonstrations of kindness toward sinners deserving His wrath and judgment. Be sure, God is wrathful and He warns us about the danger and destruction awaiting those who do not repent and trust Christ, but He also gives us an earnest reason to know that He will receive us with grace, mercy, and kindness. Paul goes on to call the believers to behold both the kindness and severity of God (Romans 11:22). So today, which will you have, the severity of God’s judgment made worse by your rejection of His kindness? Or would you enjoy His kindness forever as a ransomed, redeemed, and reconciled saint?!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |