Be Kind, Just Be Kind…

Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Luke 6:36 - MSG

Every once in a while, I see someone wearing a T-shirt that says simply, “Be kind.” It brings a momentary smile, and quite often I will tell the person wearing the shirt, “Love your shirt!”

What I am really saying is that I love the fact that there are people in the world who value kindness. People who believe that being nice to someone else is important in today's world.

It is, you know.

For some odd reason, however, the world today seems to be both lacking kindness to some degree and yet hungering for kindness at the same time. Perhaps that's because today's verse is unsettling for some and a way of life for others. It might be the difference between the “hearers” of the Word and the “doers” of the Word.

God, our Father, is kind. In Ephesians 5:1 we are told to “imitate God.” we are called to be imitators of Him. Think of a mimeograph machine, an old device that reproduced copies from a master. In much the same way, we are called to let the character of our Master be reflected in the way we live.

And we have a Master from whom we derive our way of life. His instruction to us today is simple: Be kind because He is kind. Show mercy because you have been shown mercy. Do good to others because God has been so good to us—to you.

Today, Jesus calls us—you and me—to show compassion, tenderness, empathy, and forgiveness rather than harshness or revenge. Our example isn't the world around us or even our own feelings. It is our Father, whose mercy knows no bounds.

The bottom line is this; we are being asked to choose grace and understanding over criticism, gossip, or holding grudges against difficult people. We are being asked to extend help and goodwill even when it is unearned, unreciprocated, or directed toward people who oppose us.

We are called to imitate God, reflecting His grace in our daily relationships. And sometimes, that calling can be expressed in the simplest of ways:

Be kind because He is kind. Today, just be kind.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the kindness You show me every single day. Your mercy meets me in places where I fall short, Your patience steadies me when I am hurried or frustrated, and Your compassion covers me in ways I don't always notice. Today, let Your kindness shape my own.

Teach me to see people the way You see them—with tenderness, empathy, and a willingness to extend grace even when it isn't earned or returned. Help me choose kindness and gentleness over irritation, understanding over criticism, and forgiveness over holding on to old hurts. And when kindness feels costly or inconvenient, remind me that I am simply imitating You—the One who has been endlessly kind to me.

Guide me to walk through today with a spirit that mirrors Your goodness. Lord, make kindness my way of life because it is Yours.

In Jesus' Name, Amen…

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