Part 4: Kindness

Refresh: what the world needs now

PART 4

“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  ‘Why do you call Me good?’ Jesus answered. No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ He said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Mark 10:17-22 (NIV)

1.  FOLLOWING JESUS IS AN INVITATION NOT A CHALLENGE.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)

2.  GOD WANTS TO SHOW HIS KINDNESS THROUGH OUR LIVES.       

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10 (NIV)

3.  TO BE KIND IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST.

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Matthew 11:5 (NIV)

• The more we seek Jesus, the more we will see and reflect His kindness.

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This week’s Reading Plan and blog/podcast:

• YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
  “Put on Kindness” (3 days)   

• Blog and Podcast: “Imitating Jesus’ Kindness”