In our Wednesday Bible Study—The Inner Struggle for Holiness—we explored the scriptures to better understand the spiritual fruit of kindness. We must always remember kindness is produced from God’s pure nature. Loving-kindness [Hebrew: hesed] is based on honoring God’s faithfulness for his covenant people. It is a supernatural characteristic of God that is produced in believers by the Holy Spirit.
In our passage from the psalter today, it becomes clear that to dwell in God’s presence is to live a life of kindness. We know genuine kindness has been imparted and is growing in our hearts by our desire to treat others with kindness. Grace directs kindness. When we know kindness, we treat others the way we would want them to treat us (Luke 6:31). As well, when we put on kindness, we are quick to forgive and never stoop to retaliation. Remember, kindness is often the door through which God enters a person’s heart—the kindness of the Savior.
Worthy of Further Thought: Kindness sees the good and addresses what will destroy the good if not corrected.
Psalm 15 NLT A psalm of David.
1
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2
Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3
Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
4
Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5
Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your kindness that woos us into repentance and delivers us into new life. Shape our hearts by your Spirit, help us clothe ourselves with kindness daily, and use our lives to reflect your love to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.