Beloved, our God commands us to be kind to others and that means anyone. Kindness is linked to mercy as we see from our Father’s example when HE showed mercy to us evident through HIS loving-kindness. So why do we act and speak to others with no respect, or are harsh and mean to folks around us. Do we not know that kindness motivates others to be kind to us? How can we as leaders show kindness to others? Can our kindness save lives of people who put their trust in us? Vice versa, can our unkindness lead others to death or unsafe conditions. Examine your heart, think through all scenarios, could your choice possibly lead others around you to an unsafe state? Rahab’s life depended on Joshua’s men keeping their words. They had to chose to save her life and her family because she was kind to them. What is your choice and how will it affect those around you?
Joshua 2:12-14
12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me [c]a true token,13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
Titus 3:3-6
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Zechariah 7:9
9 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.