WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...love is kind

Don't you just love it when someone says or does something that is genuinely an act of kindness. For no reason, just to be kind. Almost seems like a forgotten thing from the past, showing kindess that is.

It seems like you don't see many people opening doors for others anymore. Have you ever tried to get out in a busy lane of traffic - seems like very few people will let anybody merge into their lane anymore. When is the last time you were in the checkout lane and let someone go in front of you that only had one or two items?

KINDNESS... you know the phrase - "kindness goes a long way." It certainly does!

EPHESIANS 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

Kindness is love in action. Kindness is very different from patience. Patience avoids a problem, kindness creates a blessing. One is preventive, the other is proactive. Having Godly love will cause us be kind to others, and others will desire to be around us.

But kindness just doesn't happen...look at the results of the YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL from last week. I polled the readers, "What is the last kind act someone did for you?" The top 3 answers were:

1. 53% of the readers said that someone gave them a kind compliment.
2. 33% of those polled said that someone opened the door for them.
3. 13% voted and said that someone gave them a present for no reason.

To be kind, it takes some initiative. Look at the poll results, all of these things took some action on someones part to make it happen and most likely someone thought ahead before doing these kind things. Sadly though, this poll revealed only 6% of those polled said that someone was kind to them by praying for them. Does this mean that we do not consider prayer a kind act? or does it mean that we are not taking the initiative to pray for others?

In Luke, Chapter 10, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. What a great example of the kindness of love that Jesus desires from us. You know the story...

A Jewish man is left for dead, after being beaten by robbers. Two respected, religious men walk by without noticing the injured man and ignoring him. They were either too busy or too important to stop and be kind. However, when a common Samaritan man comes by, he did the most shocking thing. Even though his race hated the Jews, he looked beyond the cultural boundaries and was moved with compassion to help this man in need. A simple act of kindness bridged years of racism that had caused strife and division.

The Good Samaritan took the initiative to show true kindness. What an act of love! If it is hard to love our enemies, possibly we need to look for ways to be kind to them. One of the best ways to show kindness to our enemies is to pray for them! Someone needs a Good Samaritan to stop and care, and show love with their kindness.

Can you be a Good Samaritan today?