God's LoveSample

Love is Kind

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines "kind" this way: of a sympathetic or helpful nature. We use the word as an adjective. He or she is a "kind person”.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4, "kind" is a verb, a present tense, active verb. It means to furnish what is needed, to help or assist, to be profitable to another. God’s love furnishes us exactly what we need. 

Think about how God furnished your spiritual needs in Christ. According to Paul “you were dead in trespasses and sins..." You were utterly helpless to save yourself. There was nothing you could do. You were hopeless and helpless.

God, however, could do something for you, and he did. What he did we know as the Good News, "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16). God rolled up his sleeves and acted on your behalf. He furnished you with what you needed most—life.

Paul described God’s act of love in Titus 3:3: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasure. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

This passage doesn't paint kindness as a warm, fuzzy feeling. God's kindness saved you "through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:4). Kindness opened the doors for God to live inside of you. As Paul wrote, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This is the love of God in action, the result of his kindness to you.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercised kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight" (Jeremiah 9:24).

God exercised kindness to you. This kindness led you to repentance and you were saved. You are alive in Christ, totally forgiven, justified and Christ lives in you because God is kind. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, God blessed you “in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:3). This is good news!