By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

I’ve said it before. and I’ll say it again: I will not allow the world to make me unkind. Neither should you. In our topsy-turvy world, we could do with more kindness.

A lot of people think being kind is the same as being nice. Not quite. Someone can be both nice and kind, certainly, but another person could be nice without being kind. See, nice involves manners and smiles and a good disposition. Anyone can be nice, even villains. At the very least, they can be nice to their families and friends, showering them with affection and gifts. Kindness, however, is about motivation. A kind person does not limit their kindness only to people who think, act, or look like them.

Kindness is defiance. Kind people look beyond man-made labels and divisions to see children of God. Kind people recognize that what makes us similar far outweighs what divides us. They are willing, even eager, to reach across boundary lines and embrace the outcast and the “other.” Where other people see enemies, they see siblings in Christ. They demonstrate His love by simply being kind. They are motivated to be kind because it’s an integral part of following Jesus.

Have Courage and Be Kind

Sometimes I find it difficult to understand Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. He loved me that much? Wow. I don’t deserve that sort of love. I don’t deserve His mercy and forgiveness. And yet, He gives it freely. It’s available for everyone. That’s the other part that’s difficult to understand: Christ died for all human beings. That includes people we dislike or disagree with. We don’t get to choose who is worthy of salvation because Christ already made that decision and His decision is, well, everyone.

That doesn’t mean I’m off the hook. All Christians bear a responsibility to live and love as Christ does. It’s a big task. An important task. We should always strive to be like Jesus and to be His hands and feet to our neighbors. Colossians 3:12-13 tells us exactly what we are to do: “Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.” Those verses are pretty direct. We are to show all people kindness and offer forgiveness to anyone who may have hurt us, whether directly or indirectly. Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t set boundaries or that you must remain in an abusive situation; your safety matters! But you do you need to recognize that we are all sinners and, even though none of us deserves it, Christ offers mercy and salvation to us and none of us gets to decide otherwise.

Those people you dislike? The ones who vote differently from you or talk differently or eat differently? You’re expected to treat them with kindness and to remember that they are saved just as you are. Like it or not, one day you’ll be together with them and Jesus in Heaven. We are all part of the same family. For eternity. We don’t have to always get along, but do we always need to be kind to one another. Show mercy. Offer hospitality. Look beyond what divides you and focus on what unifies you. And even if you struggle with that, even if you view that person as your enemy, you can still be kind.

Change the World

You’re probably thinking: fine, I have to be kind to everyone. How exactly do I do that? What if someone sees me interacting with certain people and then assumes that I hold the same values or beliefs? What if I get canceled? What if those certain people are mean to me? What if, what if, what if.

Friend, you’re asking the wrong questions. You have to stop thinking like a human being and start thinking like Jesus. He hung out with tax collectors, some of the most hated people of that era. He sat with Gentiles at a time when Jews and Gentiles simply didn’t mix. He invited women, the poor, and the marginalized to mingle with men, the rich, and the social elite. That doesn’t mean Jesus supported oppression or that he valued one group over another. But He did show everyone kindness. And yeah, there are instances in the Gospels where He was questioned about it (Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 13-17, for example). He still did it. Should we not do likewise?

Kindness is a defining trait of God. Since human beings are created in God’s image, we too can embody God’s kindness. And when we welcome the Holy Spirit into our hearts, we bear the fruit of kindness for all to see. Psalm 33:5 tells us, “He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh.” The foundation of kindness is love, specifically God’s love. It’s love that will change the world. We can put it into practice by being kind to others. Jesus did. During His earthly ministry He offered everyone a seat at the table. His kindness softened hearts and changed minds. That’s what kindness does. So, stop thinking “what if people judge me” and start thinking “what if I can change the world?”

Choose Kindness Everyday

We’re not always going to get it right. There will be opportunities where we should be kind, and we choose not to be. Jesus will forgive you. Will you forgive yourself? Will you forgive others when they don’t choose kindness? Don’t let society dictate who you’re supposed to be kind to, and don’t let the world make you unkind. Hold fast to kindness. A single act of kindness could radically change the future.

November 13^th is World Kindness Day. How will you celebrate? Who will you invite to the table? Really, every day should be world kindness day. I encourage you to start thinking about how you can embody Christ’s kindness in your everyday life, not just on World Kindness Day. Sit with tax collectors. Host a banquet and invite the wealthy and the poor. Be an example of Christ in the world.

All scripture is from the World English Bible, public domain.