Nougat 11

Dear siblings

We’re still in God’s Designer Wear store seeking to identify the pieces we need for our new wardrobe.

As we move to the new section of the store, how did the tenderhearted mercy fit? Hopefully you enjoyed it that you’ll wear it again today. If so, you might wish to accentuate it with kindness, as recommended by Today’s Holy Nougat.

Colossians 3:12 NLT

[12] Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Clothed in Kindness

It is almost tempting to think that tenderhearted mercy is kindness. But kindness involves a little more. HELPS Word-studies suggests that it is about being well-fit for use (for what is really needed and that which is serviceable). HELPS Word-studies further indicate that it is Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need and avoids human harshness (cruelty). They go further cite a quote that indicates that there is no term that adequately captures this notion of kind and good. I suspect it might be similar, therefore, to the Hebrew hesed, which we understand as lovingkindness.

Further, I’d suggest that kindness, though similar to mercy, includes compassion but is not always about responding to distress. It seems to be more aligned to doing good simply because God gives us the capacity to.

Self-Check

I recall watching a YouTube video once, where the coach didn’t ask for Like, Share, and Subscribe. Instead, he offered an assignment to say something nice to someone.

– When last have we been nice to somebody just because we can?

– Is kindness a key feature in our wardrobe, or only sought if it could be used as a means to an end?

Application Consideration

What would it cost us to allow God’s Spirit to clothe us in kindness? Do we

A – Not have time for it

B – Consider it as an unnecessary accessory

C – Only extend kindness to our clique

D – Allow God’s Spirit to work through us, extending mercy to others as is feasible?

As we reflect and chew, I’ll share a tiny secret – oftentimes, kindness repays us unexpectedly just when we need it most.

Assignment

Let’s choose to accessorise with kindness today while being on the lookout for where it’s being offered to us.

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May all we seek be found in Christ