Colossians 3:12-14 - Eight Christian Virtues - KINDNESS
Colossians 3:12-14 - "And, so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoevere has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."
These verses list eight virtues which should characterize those who follow Christ. These virtues do not naturally exist inside of us. They actually run contrary to our basic human nature. We cannot produce them by human effort. These virtues are produced in us by the presence of God’s Spirit in our lives. Each of them is demonstrated in the life of Jesus and as we allow God to make us more like Jesus, then these virtues become evident in our lives as well.
KINDNESS - Genuine compassion always leads to action, and that is where “kindness” comes in. Compassion is how we feel toward others and kindness is what we do as a result of those feelings. The word translated “kindness” in Colossians 3:12 was used in the ancient world to describe wine which had grown mellow, lost its harshness with age. From that use can learn that as we receive God’s gift of kindness in our lives and pass it along to others, we will become less harsh and more tolerant in spirit.
- It's interesting how in Proverbs 3 the Bible links kindness and truth together. The Scripture says in Proverbs 3:3 says, "Do not let kindness and truth leave you..." Truth, apart from kindness, can be brutal. We have all known people delighted in "speaking the truth" especially when it is a truth about a fault or shortcoming of another. Such truth telling apart from a kind spirit can rip people apart.
- And it's interesting how Micah ties together the concepts of kindness and justice. Micah 6:8 says "...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness..." Justice, apart from kindness, becomes intolerable legalism.
If God is producing in us this quality of kindness, it will show in our disposition toward people. Instead of being harsh, rigid, and intolerant, there will be a softness of spirit about us. We will have what one writer calls a "sweetness of disposition."
For more detailed notes on Colossians go to http://www.larryreynolds.org-a.googlepages.com/home)
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