But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared …
Summary: The word “kindness” is sometimes misunderstood to refer to someone who never says a mean word. As we look at today’s passage, we discover that what is important is the moral quality of the person or being the word refers to.
Do you think of God as “kind?”
Maybe you have a neighbor who is thoughtful and pleasant. You think of them as kind because they are. Do the people at church qualify as kind? Like people everywhere, some do, and some do not. The kind ones are very nice, rarely argumentative, and they always seem to be doing something for someone else. Kind people tend to be quiet, generous, and loving.
God, on the other hand, threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23). He also flooded the earth, killing every living thing that lived on land except for what was in the ark Noah built (Genesis 6-7). This is the God that sent plagues to kill the Israelites (Exodus 32:35 is one example) and dropped Korah and all his family into an open grave (Numbers 16).
So I ask again: Do you think of God as “kind?”
Once again, it helps to look at the Greek text to understand the meaning. The meaning of the Greek appears to emphasize the moral excellence of God. I am not a Greek scholar, but Strong’s definition includes a comment about this. If we look at the meaning as a reflection of who God is rather than what he does, it helps me put this text into perspective.
It is not ironic to say that someone is just and kind in the same breath. A king may sentence one person to death and honor another for his faithfulness. (See Genesis 40) The difference between God and a human king is that God does not use his power cruelly. His judgments are just. His wrath, therefore, is not cruel but fair.
When “God our Savior appeared” in the form of Jesus, we see God’s love for humanity in the flesh. The kindness of Jesus is not trivial. He did not wave his hand and solve everyone’s problems simply because he could. There is a moral quality to his love. His kindness is in his redemptive work on the cross.
Application: Consider how God’s kindness has helped you become a kinder person.
Food for Thought: How is love different than kindness?
Very good devotion brother.
I think if we were to define love as seeking God’s intended good for another, then a loving person will likely be kind as well.
Love often includes kindness, but I believe a person can be kind without truly loving someone else. The combination of love leading to kindness is powerful. Love can be the motivation and kindness can be the action. But I realize that depends somewhat on our definitions.
Thank you, Rich.
I put the kitty in there just for you! 🙂
You write that a person “can be kind without truly loving someone else.” I wonder if the opposite is true, too? Can a person truly love someone and at the same time appear that they are not being kind?
Thank you for putting the kitty in! I feel honored. So does my cat Yoda.
And I think someone can love somebody and appear not to be kind. But if they are loving someone and are truly never kind (not just appearance) I would begin to wonder about their sincerity. But I suppose it is possible.
I was thinking along the lines of Proverbs 13:24. There are also a number of passages like Titus 1:13, “Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.” I realize that this raises a lot of questions from the perspective of Matthew 7:1-5. Yet Scripture suggests those called by God value guidance. (“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”Proverbs 10:17; “Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.”
Proverbs 15:12; “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” Proverbs 15:31)
Yes. I agree. I am thinking that discipline and correction is a form of kindness. It is certainly a form of love depending on the motivation.
Ah yes … judging motivation. That brings us back to Matthew 7 again. 🙂
God’s love has intensity and stability. In the Hebrew one term he-sed is sometimes translated love, sometimes kindness and sometimes loving-kindness. It is a bond of loyalty which expresses itself in a manner appropriate to the relationship which exists as a choice between close relatives, friends, or allies.
It was God’s love which underlying His acts of covenant faithfulness. He chose Abraham.
It was God’s love in and by all the persons of the Godhead and manifested by Christ’s sacrifice of Himself through His incarnation and sacrifice on the cross which demonstrates how much God loves us. He did this for those whom His justice rightly judges were His enemies. It is the cross which assures us of God’s endless love for mankind.
It is God’s love which motivates His kindness. It is because He is totally morally good as well as gentle and mild which enables His thoughts and actions of kindness to be given to those who do not deserve them.
Because God is good He can be kind and friendly even to those are His enemies. Because we know Him and His Spirit indwells us we can chose also to love and show kindness to our enemies as well. We can try to be a faithful friend to those who seemingly hate us, and persecute us for Christ’s sake, with the hope that one day they will repent, embrace the gospel and come to know Christ as their Savior.
We must however be wise in the manner in which we conduct ourselves with unbelievers. A person needs to show some readiness, appetite, or at least an openness to listen. Sometimes sharing prematurely can harden rather than soften 💕 hearts. We are not to cast pearls of wisdom before those who we already know will reject them and also use what we may say to turn and attempt to destroy us because of their malice and hatred for whom we serve and what we believe ( Matthew 7:6).
Try to reflect the Lord’s 🙏 ❤ attitude towards all. If you can be loving and kind do so. Sometimes being loving and kind will not be taken as such by the other party.
Total rebellion and defiance should be met at times with a time out in prison or other rehabilitation means for the good of society. There seem to be certain public officials which do not understand this and are allowing people who committing serious crimes against the personal safety and property of others and doing nothing, and not only releasing them again into society but even forbidding law enforcement from stopping them or defending themselves. I find this kind of thinking rather unconscionable. Both parties, the civil officials as well as the perpetrators of violence need the Lord as well as to be removed from their respective positions and criminal actions in my view, however I am not in charge.
I can only trust and pray the voters may make different choices in the future.
Thank you, Jeff.
Interesting background on the Hebrew for love and kindness!
How is love different than kindness?
Both are fruit of the Spirit, the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of all believers which becomes more evident as we grow in Christ. God’s Love is the foundation, source of all acts of kindness seen in the lives of believers expressed toward others. They are a visible sign of Christ in us as we witness to the world around us, letting our light be seen..
Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:9-11
Acts of true kindness from God are not always seen as such by those who wish to be a god unto themselves. Mankind has been given freewill, knowing the rewards and consequences of their choices, they have chosen to exercise freewill by obtaining full knowledge of good and evil. Most have chosen to reject their Creator and live in evil. They demand they be allowed to become equal to or greater than God as they are. God is Holy, and will not allow Himself to become contaminated with sin, and has made this known to all. Their response is God is bad and must go.
Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:22, Romans 2:15, Romans 1:28-32
“Acts of true kindness from God are not always seen as such by those who wish to be a god unto themselves.”
— Very profound! Thank you!
👍🏻