Spiritual Kindness

Random Acts of Kindness, also known as R.A.K.’s have been popular among churches, schools, even individuals just helping someone out unexpectedly. However, just because the recipient wasn’t anticipating the kindness, and just because it was “random” doesn’t mean it wasn’t premeditated.

When looking deeper into the fruit of the Spirit, it’s important to see that the Spirit wants to produce these qualities in us consistently. What separate someone’s kind actions who is in Christ from someone who hasn’t trusted in Christ yet, is their motives. God’s Spirit reveals God’s kindness, and that’s done for a purpose. Kindness is an action as well as an attitude. The attitude behind our kindness is what softens people’s hearts.

God’s gift of the Spirit sees through whatever circumstance we are in the middle of and helps us understand the purpose in demonstrating what’s mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – regardless. This list sums up what people are looking for in life, and those IN Christ have been given the tool to help others understand how to achieve these.

Ephesians 1 describes God’s mysterious plan of kindness towards us. The New Living Translation Bible says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Although we receive the spiritual blessings because we’re in Christ, the act of receiving the blessing wasn’t done without a cause, and it wasn’t random.

The New American Standard Bible uses the phrase, “His kind intentions”, here’s where we see God’s premeditated act of kindness. Ephesians 1:4, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

In spite of some beliefs, which use this passage to describe God’s partiality without reason, this verse instead illustrates the kindness of God with a reason. In His kindness, He extended grace to everyone who will trust in His son; and He decided to do this “act of kindness” before the world began. Jesus Christ came to rectify the problem of sin for every human being.

Not one person has to go to hell, all because Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by offering Himself as a living sacrifice. Paul continues by further explaining God’s “kindness” in Ephesians 1:6, “So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”

We are chosen through Jesus. Not that Jesus picked one over the other, but everyone who is added to the Lord’s body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), have been “sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was God’s ultimate act of kindness.

Spiritual kindness is what Jesus talks about in Matthew 5:43-48 when He said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven…” Being randomly kind isn’t a bad idea, but being intentionally kind is even better. Jesus reminds us that His kindness is part of His perfect nature, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Consider some Random Acts of Kindness that you can participate in this week, month, or year; and premeditate on what you need to do to make it happen.