Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Podcast Central

Home
Evangelical - Sponsored
Reflections of Grace 29: Walking in the Spirit – Kindness

Reflections of Grace 29: Walking in the Spirit – Kindness

Last updated on: February 23, 2016 at 3:02 am by Christian Podcast Central

Reflections of Grace 29: Walking in the Spirit – Kindness 2016-02-23T03:02:46-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Reflections of Grace 29: Walking in the Spirit - Kindness Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Greek word for kindness means tender concern for others. It has nothing to do with weakness or lack of conviction, rather it is the genuine desire of a believer to treat others gently, just as the Lord treats us… the term possesses the harmlessness of a dove. It is a tender heart and a nurturing spirit. Each quality of the Holy Spirit is absolutely divine.
They are impossible goals for the unbeliever, yet attainable graces for the true believer. They are manifestations of the Father Himself through the yielded or spirit filled child of God.
I am convinced that many believers are far more knowledgeable in the areas of God’s sovereignty and judgment than they are His tenderness and kindness. you can know Him well as Lord yet never truly relate to Him as Father. So, let me introduce you, some for the very first time to the El Shaddai, the Father of sufficiency, our God, the nurturing parent.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth for in these I delight.

Hosea 11:4 says: I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.

The precious portrait of God’s tender heart and nurturing Spirit is the calming of a child’s fears by his father.

Jeremiah 3: 17 says: The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

This illustrates that beautiful moment in which God’s throne becomes a rocking chair and He pulls His fretting fearful child into His arms and says, “It’s ok, I am right here.” What does it mean to be quieted with his love? If you are a parent, you have quieted a child with your love countless times, rocking the child, and all the while whispering shhhhh mommy or daddy loves you. How does God rejoice over you with singing? It is the picture of a parent savoring the moment as His child rests in His arms with the tender melody of a lullaby.
Do you remember matt: 19:14? Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. This verse is the peak of his tender heart. Remember the Son who has been nurtured with love and tenderness also know how to administer love and tenderness.. He is tender! He must have had such a gentle touch. He could have just as easily have healed by thought alone, but so often He chose to touch. He touched the blind man that he might see, He touched the dead child that she might live. He demonstrated Agape! He took her by the hand!
Oh do you know Him this way, friends? Do you allow Him to nurture you? Do you take Him your fears and your fretting and allow Him to hold you in His arms and cover you with His love and kindness?
Let’s think of Mary Magdalene for a moment: After Jesus was killed her heart was broken. She owed Jesus her life and her sanity. She had experienced life firsthand in the web of the evil one. Yet, she had also experienced true deliverance. Mary devoted her entire existence to her Deliverer. She did not deny herself the pain of watching him die, nor did she leave Him until the stone was rolled into place. Suddenly he was gone. Unlike many others, Mary did not lament lost opportunities, nor a seemingly forfeited kingdom. Her grief was simple. She missed Jesus. She loved him. So, why did he appear first to her? I believe the answer is because Mary’s lord, and ours, is tenderhearted and kind. He intimately loved her and honored her and loved that she loved him in that manner.
Take a good look at the faces around you this week. At the rich and the poor, miserable and happy, those who are driving next to you on the freeway. The neighbor getting their mail. The criminals on the news…look at their faces. We are called to be Him extended. How can we take on His kindness and begin to be Him reaching out to a broken world? It always goes back to the fact that we can’t trust someone without knowing them in the truest sense of the word. We have to know Him. Then we will trust Him, and take on His attributes.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (NLT) Abba, as in Daddy…even more it is MY Daddy.

Jesus was the one I could put in that place as my best friend —and then I saw this scripture and it became revelation to me. Jesus speaking:

If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John14:7

Knowing and loving Jesus is all we need. He can fill every place of emptiness in our inner man with Himself if we allow Him too

Jesus is the Almighty. He has absolute power over all. As I ask God to speak to you, I can hear him say. All power has been given to Jesus in heaven and in earth. Let him establish his power in you today. Let him take every fear and burden of your life. He is able to do great things in you, for you, and through you, today. Our minds, emotions, thoughts, and wills are held by him with an unbreakable chain which is secured to the heart of God. In a still, small voice He seems to say, “Stop trying so hard to hold onto me. I am never going to let you go. Rest on the waters of your life. Let me hold you. Respond to the hope I have placed in you.
The first way to really know Him is in the beauty of your surroundings. Notice it, ponder it, lean into it. He is speaking. The key is to be aware. Think on Him. Invite Him there. Talk to Him. He longs for relationship with you and is waiting.
Knowing Him is not pledging ourselves to religious service. We can talk about Him, teach about Him, even tell others about Him, but have no intimacy with Him ourselves!!

For more encouraging and engaging podcasts and videos, visit the E-Squared Media Network at www.e2medianetwork.com

Uncategorized

bible

christian

christian bible study podcast

christian culture podcast

christian living

christian relationship podcast

healing emotional wounds

healing from abuse

healing from childhood abuse

is the bible reliable

Previous Post

May 14, 2014

Church for Men 17: Rick Caldwell (Men's Fraternity & Authentic Manhood) Interview

Next Post

May 15, 2014 Jesus in HD 68: Straight Talk About Spiritual Abuse

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Brad Stine Has Issues Christian Podcast Central Classic Podcast Experience God Life Grounded Ouxano Parent Like You Mean It The Protest Show with Thor Ramsey The Summit Lecture Series Uncategorized What You’ve Been Searching For

Select a Month July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz