No personal trait of Jesus Christ is more obvious in the Gospels than his kindness. I am especially impressed with Jesus’ kindness to people who did not usually receive kindness — little children, women, the poor, the sick, the physically or mentally impaired. Jesus was also kind to sinners — people with a history of failures and flops.
Because Jesus reveals God to us, this also shows us the heart of our God (John 1:18). God is kind to undeserving sinners, which includes all of us. His kindness prompts our repentance (Rom. 2:4). The gospel itself is called “the kindness of God” (Titus 3:4). Because God is kind to us, we must be kind to each other (Eph. 4:32).
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and a mark of a spiritual person (Gal. 5:22). It makes us useful to God and fruitful for him (2 Pet. 1:7-8). Those who truly serve God are kind to others — Paul cites kindness as a mark of his apostleship (2 Cor. 6:6). You may hold me accountable as an elder (presbyter) and spiritual shepherd (pastor-teacher) to be kind — and the same is true of all your other spiritual leaders. We are not worldly “bosses” or CEO’s. Remind us of that if we forget it. You may rightly expect all your ministers to be kind. Kindly point it out (to them) if they are not.
We all are sinners who sometimes slip — but by the transforming power of God’s Spirit, we can all become better than we now are. In short, let us all be kind to one other, tenderhearted, forgiving each another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us all and has shown us his kindness. God expects no less.