The Cambridge Dictionary defines kindness as the quality of being “generous, helpful, and caring about other people”. However, a more biblically-rooted definition would be: “to be kind is to want the ultimate best for a person”.
As Paul describes in Galatians 5v22-23, kindness is a quality we are to grow in as the Holy Spirit produces it in us. But how are we to do this?
We simply look to imitate Christ. As we keep our eyes firmly fixed on Christ, and as we look to imitate Him through His life as recorded in Scripture, the Holy Spirit moves to create this fruit in each of us. As we then walk out our lives, we move to show kindness in our everyday lives as Jesus would.
But this begs the question – how did Jesus show kindness?
This summer we will be looking at the book of Mark, and there are many examples of Jesus showing kindness:
In a lot of these examples Jesus also attends to people’s social needs as well as physical needs. And as we look forward to ministry this summer, we can show kindness in the same way by meeting the children and young people’s social and physical needs. That may be in the dish room, in dorm time or simply tidying up after an activity.
But also Jesus wasn’t blind to the truth. He wasn’t afraid to cut deep with people to get to the root of the issue at hand (see Mark 10 v 17-31). For example with the rich young man He addressed the fact that his love for money was more than his love for God.
So to show kindness in the same way we mustn’t be afraid to go deep with people and address the big issues at hand, or the sin in their lives. Jesus had the courage to show kindness in this way because He had an audience of one – He cared more about what God thought than what others thought.
As you think about ministry this summer, how can you show kindness? Spend some time in prayer reflecting on this – where can you show kindness to children, young people, or to your team, so that God gets the glory?
During the week ahead go back and read the passages in Mark in more detail, noting how Jesus acts in kindness towards a whole variety of people:
Monday: Mark 1 v 29-34
Tuesday: Mark 2 v 13-17
Wednesday: Mark 5 v 1-20
Thursday: Mark 6 v 30-44
Friday: Mark 10 v 17-31
