Hello Everyone,
Tony
Campolo tells about an incident that happened to him on his way into work.
Walking on the sidewalk of downtown, Tony would often pass by a number of
homeless people. From time to time, they would ask for money; generally, he
ignored them.
One day a bag lady that he had seen before in his mad dash to get from point A to B came out of a donut shop with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Their eyes met and Tony forced a smile. Putting down her coat and bags she said, “Hey mister, would you like a sip of my coffee?”
Now if you were Tony how would you respond? Keep waking and ignore her? That’s what Tony did, or at least he started to. A half a block away, he turned back around and said, “Hey lady! Yes, I would like a taste of your coffee.” She held out the cup with her dirty hand; he took the cup and swallowed what had to be the most delicious cup of coffee he had tasted in a long time.
“Isn’t it good,” she said.
“Yes it IS GOOD! And thank you. By the way, why did you offer me your coffee?”
“Because it was so good, I thought someone might like to share it with me and enjoy it too.”
A small, yet simple act of kindness from a stranger interrupted Tony Campolo’s walk to the office.
One day a bag lady that he had seen before in his mad dash to get from point A to B came out of a donut shop with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Their eyes met and Tony forced a smile. Putting down her coat and bags she said, “Hey mister, would you like a sip of my coffee?”
Now if you were Tony how would you respond? Keep waking and ignore her? That’s what Tony did, or at least he started to. A half a block away, he turned back around and said, “Hey lady! Yes, I would like a taste of your coffee.” She held out the cup with her dirty hand; he took the cup and swallowed what had to be the most delicious cup of coffee he had tasted in a long time.
“Isn’t it good,” she said.
“Yes it IS GOOD! And thank you. By the way, why did you offer me your coffee?”
“Because it was so good, I thought someone might like to share it with me and enjoy it too.”
A small, yet simple act of kindness from a stranger interrupted Tony Campolo’s walk to the office.
Kindness
comes in all shapes and sizes regardless of how big or small
we all appreciate a kind act.
Tonight our
focus “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS . . . KINDNESS.”
Kindness is born of the Spirit; human energy or effort does not naturally produce kindness; it comes from God. Yes, people can be kind separate from God, but their kindness is impure and incomplete.
The Kindness of God - What is God’s kindness like?
• Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Who is it that God is drawing to Him with loving-kindness, the righteous? No!
Kindness is born of the Spirit; human energy or effort does not naturally produce kindness; it comes from God. Yes, people can be kind separate from God, but their kindness is impure and incomplete.
The Kindness of God - What is God’s kindness like?
• Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
Who is it that God is drawing to Him with loving-kindness, the righteous? No!
God’s
loving kindness is given to those who have rebelled against Him
and turned away from Him.
• Luke 6:35 (NIV)
Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back . . . because [God] is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Jesus doesn’t tell us to love our friends and treat them nicely.
He says
love your enemies! Why?
Because
that is what God is like; we are to follow His example.
Paul told the Romans, “God’s kindness leads to repentance” (Romans 2:4 NIV).
God’s kindness is without limit:
- Kindness breaks down barriers and boundaries.
- Kindness opens the door to the fullness of God’s love and fellowship.
- Kindness takes in the objectionable and critical; it welcomes those filled with bitterness and resentment.
- Kindness even takes in US!
Ephesians
2:7 (NLT)
God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.
We who believe show others the riches of God’s incredible kindness. God offers His kindness to those who do not deserve it regardless of how they respond to it.
The fruit of the Spirit IS kindness. Jesus said as we are connected to Him we would bear much fruit. Remember that apart from Christ we can do nothing!
God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.
We who believe show others the riches of God’s incredible kindness. God offers His kindness to those who do not deserve it regardless of how they respond to it.
The fruit of the Spirit IS kindness. Jesus said as we are connected to Him we would bear much fruit. Remember that apart from Christ we can do nothing!
Separated
from Jesus there is no fruit (John 15:5).
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