Sermons

A People Admired For Kindness

by Reagan McClenny

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Scripture: Gal 5:22-23 Jan 19, 2025

In this sermon, Reagan discusses the historical context of biblical scholarship in 1920s-1930s Germany, highlighting the contrast between intellectualism and kindness. The message emphasizes the importance of kindness as a crucial Christian virtue, drawing examples from Apostle Paul's teachings in Galatians and Colossians. The speaker elaborates on how kindness is a reflection of God's grace and how it should inform all interactions, even in hardships, as demonstrated by Paul and Jesus Christ. The lesson underscores the role of kindness in maintaining good works and encourages viewers to embody this virtue in their daily lives.

00:00 Introduction and Handouts
00:11 Biblical Scholarship in Germany
01:33 Abraham Joshua Heschel's Wisdom
03:08 The Importance of Kindness
03:51 Scriptural References on Kindness
05:27 Kindness as a Fruit of the Spirit
07:34 God's Kindness and Justice
11:45 Living Out Kindness
24:33 Kindness in Hardship
32:42 Final Reflections on Kindness

Transcript

If you did not receive a handout for the lesson this morning, there are a couple of gentlemen who will be able to get one of those to you. If you'll just raise your hand, they'll bring that to you if you'd like a handout for the lesson this morning. In the midst of working on this lesson I'm going to preach this morning, I had lunch with Preston and Andrew and in the midst of our conversation at that lunch, we, we were talking about how some of the very best biblical scholarship in all the world and really in some way some of the best scholarship up to that time.

in the 20s and 30s came out of Germany. And that was true not just in the 1920s and 30s but also in a number of years before that. But thinking especially about the 20s and 30s and biblical scholarship, We know what's coming next in 1939, right? And it's interesting to me to think about it in those terms.

In fact, if you were going to go and get a doctorate degree in some sort of biblical literature most of those degree programs require you to learn at least some German so that you might have access to a lot of the good literature from the 20s and 30s. And knowing that World War II is coming, and knowing what was happening in Germany at that time, there are a number of those scholars who spoke out against the humanism and the things that were taking place in the Nazi party.

There were far more who, at the very least, were silent, and some who even were part of that movement. And it just doesn't sound right, does it? Nazi biblical scholar. And yet that was the reality at that time. And after our conversation during that lunch, I was reminded and I went and found a quote that I had read a number of years ago by a man named Abraham Joshua Heschel, where he said this, and you've probably heard this quote or a version of it before.

When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. Heschel, if you've never heard of him, was a Jewish scholar and writer who was born in Poland in 1907. He was educated in Germany and he resided there until late 1938, a year before World War II began. Though he was initially arrested, he was able to escape Europe shortly before the start of the war.

But most of his family was not so lucky. One of his sisters was killed by German bombs in Poland. His mother was murdered by the Nazis outside of their home. And two other sisters died in Nazi concentration camps. Perhaps those experiences contributed to this most famous of his quotes. There were lots of clever people in Nazi Germany.

Not just in regard to interpreting the Bible. If you go back a few generations, in basically any academic field, you'll find Nazis and ex Nazis. Intellect was not the problem. But a lack of kindness certainly was. There were plenty of clever people, but not nearly enough kind people. Heschel would go on to be a major figure in the civil rights movement because he saw what was more important between these two comments, these, these two concepts, cleverness and kindness.

And it seems to me you know, everybody else in the political spectrum wants to compare this to Nazi Germany and leaders to Nazis and those sorts of things. But it seems to me that kindness Is desperately needed in our time, too. In a time where interactions between people are often judged by the cleverness of the put down of someone else, we have an opportunity as Christians to shine our light with our kindness.

Christians should be a people of kindness. If you have your Bible with you this morning, would you turn with me to Galatians chapter 5? Galatians chapter 5? Galatians chapter 5, and we'll read verses 22 and 23 together. So grateful for the presence of all, especially those who are visiting with us, as has already been mentioned.

We're so glad that you came our way. And I hope the things that we do here this morning are always, first and foremost, pleasing to God. But secondly, and very importantly, we hope that it provides you an opportunity to worship God acceptably, to come closer to Him, and to know more clearly what His will is.

Especially as we think about this idea of kindness this morning. In Galatians chapter 5, the Apostle Paul is contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. And he says in verse 22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self control.

Against such there is no law. These sorts of qualities are things that apply at any time. In any circumstances and certainly in any place where laws are made, there are no laws against these sorts of things. But informally, sometimes we live in times and places where these sorts of things are not valued as they should be.

But as Christians, we have the opportunity to show that this is the fruit of what following the Spirit looks like. And our lives are characterized by love and joy and peace, and things like kindness, as we'll consider this morning. So what is kindness from a biblical perspective? What are we talking about here?

That word is sometimes translated goodness or gentleness. And kindness always finds its application in how we act toward other people. How we are treating others. According to BDAG's lexicon, kindness is the quality of being helpful or beneficial to others. To other people. And synonyms for kindness include goodness and gentleness and generosity.

Notice in another list, certainly we see this quality of kindness with these other things in Galatians chapter 5, but notice another list in Colossians chapter 3. In regard to our attitude and actions as Christians, we see in Colossians chapter 3 beginning in verse 12, the quality of kindness listed along with a number of other things in our relationships with others.

Colossians chapter 3 in verse 12, Paul says again, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

And, above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And, let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body. And, And so Paul adds to these things that the elect of God, this kind of person, should put on. The things that should characterize our life, that other people see on us.

We're, we're putting on. Yes, we're putting into our hearts, but also people see these things on us. And kindness is one of these qualities in the midst of these other things. And so it is no wonder then that kindness is a descriptor of God. Just as we are to be kind and humble and meek and love one another and forgive one another, certainly that is what God does as well.

If you turn to Ephesians chapter 2 if you've heard me preach at all, you know how much I love Ephesians 2. Kindness is used here by Paul as a synonym, as a stand in for the grace of God. So if you look there In Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 4 beginning. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace we have been saved, and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Amen. So God has grace and God is gracious. But how does he show his graciousness? It is in his kindness that he shows toward us in Christ Jesus. And so if we start associating in regard to our interaction with other people, God's grace and what God shows by his grace with kindness, we're starting to form a picture.

of what this kindness really looks like. The other side of the coin, in regard to kindness, kindness is a description of God, but we know that's not all that God is, and so the other side of God, when we think about kindness, the opposite of that is God's justice and God's severity. This word for kindness, though it is sometimes translated goodness, is found there in Romans chapter 2 and Romans chapter 11, in this sort of contrast of who God is.

It's difficult to describe God, and even those inspired by the Holy Spirit struggled to, to capture the, these different aspects of who God was. That He is kind and generous and gracious, but He is also severe, and He is a God who judges in righteousness and holiness. And so we see there, if you look in Romans chapter 2 and verse 4, our word for kindness is used three times.

In not living as God would have them to live, some people are, or do you despise the riches of His goodness? Now that's that same word as kindness. His kindness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance. But, according to your hardness and your impotent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath.

In the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. So we have wrath, we have the righteous judgment of God, that is contrasted with the kindness that God has shown toward mankind. So wrath and indignation and righteous judgment as opposed to God's kindness. If you turn then just a few pages over to Romans chapter 11 and verse 22,

Romans chapter 11 and verse 22. And I know we're plucking this from its context, but again, it's a descriptor of God. Therefore consider the kindness and severity of God. And so Paul says, here are the two sides of the coin. God's kindness, or goodness, and His severity. On those who fell, on those who are judged, it's severity.

But toward you, kindness, if you continue in his kindness shown toward us. Otherwise, you also will be cut. So God is a righteous judge. And God can be severe in terms of what that judgment looks like on the unrighteous. But in his kindness, He saves us despite the fact that we are deserving. And so kindness is and must be more than just strict righteousness.

I want you to turn to Ephesians chapter 5 if you would. Ephesians chapter 5.

A number of lists where this idea of God's kindness or the concept of kindness comes up.

But this time it is qualities added one upon another. In Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 9, we're supposed to walk in imitation of God and love and light and wisdom. And he says in verse 9, For the fruit of the Spirit is in all kindness and righteousness and truth. So it is not just in all kindness, it's also in righteousness and in truth.

And so it is not just righteousness. And it's not just truth, it is also kindness. In other words, it is not just, I'm gonna do what's right and I'm not gonna do what is wrong. Kindness requires more from us than just justice. It is more than someone who strictly does what is right and what is wrong. Now, don't misunderstand me, it is not less than that.

You cannot truly be kind if you're not doing what's right. But it is a quality that calls us to be more than righteous. And I think Jesus hints at that in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew chapter 5 and verse 20, he tells people who want to be a part of his kingdom, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you cannot inherit the kingdom of God, right?

Well, what did the scribes and Pharisees love? They love this idea in the old law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. There is something righteous, there is something just, there's something fair about that. Now, not in regard to our personal vengeance like they tried to make it to be, but in a rule, a court of law, there's something fair that the punishment meets the crime.

They had no problem with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They had a problem with this idea that you've got to love your enemy. That you have to go the second mile beyond what is required of you to show kindness even toward those who do not deserve it. So kindness describes someone who does more than earn begrudging respect for their uprightness.

It is someone who is and can be beloved because they are merciful, gentle, kind, forgiving, gracious, and generous. And because they do, merciful, gentle, kind, forgiving, gracious, and generous. That's what kindness is. But how do we become this kind of person? Well, kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, as we read there in Ephesians chapter 5, and as we read back in Galatians, chapter 5.

It is when we see and imitate God's character, His kindness, when we have His same kind of spirit becomes our spirit, that we can become kind to others. people ourselves. And that begins when we see and appreciate His kindness and His goodness in its example toward us. Turn to Titus chapter 3. Titus chapter 3.

We'll make this final point in showing what kindness is, and then we'll make some specific applications in what kindness does in our lives. So Titus chapter 3. beginning in verse 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. None of us would raise our hand and say, well that never applied to me at any point in my life. No, we all once did and practiced these things. But, verse 4, When the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that having been justified by his grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of God, His kindness, His love, His mercy, and His grace.

All of those words are used in conjunction to show what God was willing to do in order to bring about our salvation. So we see His goodness and His kindness. And that should motivate us then to imitate that ourselves. Earlier, in verse 11 in chapter 2, In this context, this is what he's talking about. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

God has shown us His kindness and His grace, and what does it do? Well, it allows us the opportunity for salvation, but also, verse 12, teaching us that. Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who, we gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people.

Zealous for good works. So, we see God's kindness, we see what it is, and then we manifest that kindness and our good works toward others. So what does that look like? What is the fruit of kindness? Well, we see right off the bat, number one, that kindness motivates us to maintain good works. That we are zealous for these good works that He created us for because of His kindness, and now we manifest that kindness toward others.

In between the two passages that we read there in Titus. Notice in Titus chapter 3 and verse 1, remind them, that is the people in this local congregation where Titus was an evangelist, remind these Christians to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey and to be ready for every good work. To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility toward all men.

Drop down to verse 8. This is a fateful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly. That those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. Notice verse 14, And let our people also learn, our people are Christians, right? Our people learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs that they may not be unfruitful.

It is by these good works that we do out of kindness that we will not be unfruitful. And so God's kindness and grace toward mankind teaches us then, to maintain good works. As Romans chapter 2 and verse 4 said, God's kindness leads to repentance. According to our deeds, what we practice, that's where God's kindness should be manifested in ours.

Think about it. Without kindness, if we were only just, you know, doing what was fair, You know what we'd say when we were given the opportunity to do good works? Maybe we'd do good works one time for every person. You know, you get one opportunity and then after that, no more. We might say, nope, I'm not going to do this good work because I don't deserve it.

It's not fair for me to do this good work because it is not something that they deserve. Or, I did some good works before toward this person or that person or this group or that group, but nobody ever appreciates what I have done. Nobody ever said thank you and that's not fair, so I'm done with good works.

Or sometimes I do good works. I'm striving to do good works toward someone and they throw it right back in my face like it means nothing. That's not fair, that's not right, so I'm not going to do any more good works. But couldn't God say me? the same thing about his good works toward us, that we don't deserve it, that we don't truly appreciate it, and sometimes we throw that kindness right back at his face.

It is our kindness reflecting God's kindness and grace that motivates us to maintain these good works. We do these things because of who we are as kind, Christ like people. Not because of who they are, the people that we're doing the works for. It is about us and our kindness, not about their deserving or their reception.

You know, Paul uses a lot of phrases to describe our good works in Titus. He says that we need to be zealous for good works, as we've read. Ready for every good work. Qualified for every good work. But twice, he says simply that we need to maintain good works. Now, maintenance is never as exciting, right?

about bearing the fruit of kindness, raise your hand if you've ever had a garden of any and it's not just a garden, you've got this huge farm to deal with. What is the hardest of having a garden? We had a garden growing up. It was a shared garden some some years. And I think in some ways sometimes the shared garden was more difficult.

You know, it's supposed to be everybody has a part in this, and so everybody divides the work equally. And you know how that works. It's not always divided equally, and then people's feelings get upset and all those sorts of things. Sometimes it's like, it's just easier just to do it myself, right? We, we had this.

This garden that that was kind of a community garden sometimes and, and as someone who was a preteen and teen in those times, my greatest contribution to the garden was when my parents told me every day, go out and weed.

Maybe if you've had a garden, you read a book or got some advice to be qualified for that garden. Maybe you got some seed and prepared the ground and took a whole day to get everything ready. for planting when the fruit came. And when the fruit did come, you were probably zealous for the harvesting and what it was you were going to receive it.

So qualified and ready and zealous, just as he describes good works. But in my limited experience, the hardest part of farming, the hardest part of gardening, is the daily maintenance. Not one day of intense work, but day after day after day of consistent work. Watering, and weeding, and pruning, and spraying, and protecting from insects, and deer, and heat, and cold.

And you better have something motivating you, because without maintenance, some, or most, or all of the garden won't bear good fruit. So the fruit of the Spirit is most clearly seen in our good works and our kindness is seen when we are maintaining good works from day to day. Not these highs where I'm zealous for it for a little while and then nobody acts right so I fall off.

No, I continue to do good works because of who I am and because of who God is.

And if, if you maintain good works, it probably means that you're practicing kindness. Because without kindness, good works cannot be maintained. So kindness isn't just a motivation to good works. Good works are an evidence of kindness. Our kindness, as the definition states that we read a moment ago, you're being helpful or beneficial to others through your good works.

And so kindness motivates us to maintain good works, but secondly, kindness refocuses us in hardship. When we're going through a good time, what we, through a hard time, what we need is kindness. Turn to 2nd Corinthians chapter 6, if you would. 2nd Corinthians chapter 6,

Again, we're jumping into a context here, and the Apostle Paul is defending his ministry against some who say, well, he's not an apostle, or he was taking advantage of you, and those sorts of things. And Paul has to speak as a fool later in this book to defend that ministry. But he's already starting to hint at that a little bit in chapter 6.

In chapter 6, beginning in verse 3, notice with me. We give no offense in anything that our ministry may not be blamed. Now notice what he says in verse 4.

As ministers of God in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings, by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, Notice, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet true.

Well known as Dying and beyond. And behold, we live as chastened and yet not killed as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing as poor, yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things. So Paul says, this is what our ministry's like, and there are good things and there are bad things, but specifically he says there are some qualities that are listed here.

There are some virtues that he has and that. That he showed and those with him showed. And there are also some hardships that he's going through. And in fact, if you were to list them out, there's an equal number of virtues, the things that they showed, And hardships, the things they had to go through in their ministry toward other people.

And so Paul commends himself in these two ways. The hardships he's gone through for Christ, and the virtues he wears as an ambassador and imitator for Christ. And, if you want to get way down in the weeds, it's interesting how many of these virtues correspond with hardships that he's gone through.

Because of this virtue, we were able to endure that, this hardship. Does that make sense? Here is the virtue seen in the hardships. And the virtues listed, including kindness, are how Paul can or could deal with the hardships that he had to go through and endure those things. If we think about kindness as one of these virtues that was listed, the hardship that jumps out to me in regard to kindness enabling him to go through that kind of hardship, Yep.

is stripes and imprisonment. Those two things, stripes and imprisonment are actively inflicted upon you by other people. And how can someone keep from becoming bitter, self centered? And full of self pity when you're having terrible things inflicted on you by others. Now, maybe there's someone in here who's had stripes and imprisonment falsely inflicted upon you by other people.

I've never had that sort of experience, but I've had experience where other people did me wrong. And I tell you, it's difficult. To act as you should and go through those things as a Christian. Where, where do we put, where do we put our emphasis? How can we endure with patience and not lose our faith? By being long suffering and looking for opportunities to be kind to others, even in the midst of the hardship.

This isn't hypothetical for Paul. This actually really happened. And I point out stripes and imprisonment specifically because we have examples of this happening. Turn, if you would, to the book of Acts, to Acts chapter 16, a passage many of us are no doubt familiar with in Acts chapter 16,

beginning in verse 23, Paul and Timothy and Silas are in Philippi. Lydia has been baptized and other leading women in that city, but eventually he is imprisoned for working a miracle. But before he goes into prison, it's commanded that they're beaten with rods. And in verse 23, And when they had laid many stripes on them, They threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stalks. That's hardship, isn't it? So what is the reaction by Paul and Silas? Well, notice verse 25. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that all the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing that the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

And Paul had the option. Instead, what he does, he shows kindness. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas eyes. And he brought them out and said, sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you and you will be saved you and all your household.

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Paul intervenes. He doesn't just let things play out. He is actively kind toward the jailer. My mom, my mom used to always tell me whenever I was young, slick as a kid, you got to kill them with kindness, Reagan.

Kill them with kindness. I love the kill them part. I didn't love the kindness part. But if you're going through a hardship right now, look for the way to show kindness through the situation, perhaps even toward those who are causing the hardship. And maybe they see it. And maybe like the Philippian jailer, they see your light and they respond to it.

Maybe they even become a Christian. But maybe they don't. Yet even in those moments, two things are sure to happen. God will be glorified as we imitate His kindness. And others will know and see the kindness that we show, despite what we're going through. And this will point others to Christ as well. And Christ is the one who is the ultimate example of kindness and hardship, is he not?

Even on the cross as Mani was talking about in his Lord's Supper talk, in leading up to the cross, his concern was about his disciples. But even on the cross, he showed kindness toward the thief beside him. Today, you will be with me in paradise. He showed kindness toward his mother there at the foot, pointing to John the Apostle and saying, Woman, behold your son.

And he showed kindness toward those who were the ones who put him up on the cross. As he cried out to his father and said, Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. And he showed kindness. Toward you and toward me in the midst of the hardship by being that sacrifice for your sin and for mine and so kindness Motivates us to maintain good works Refocuses us in hardship and finally number three kindness informs or should inform all of our interactions with other people everything we say As a Christian, should be through the filter, through the lens of kindness.

Amen?

I think we know that to be true, but putting that into practice is difficult, especially when we are striving to stand for the truth and do what's right. Going back to the start of the lesson, would you rather be known as clever or kind? Would you rather be known as powerful or kind? Would you rather be known as funny?

Would you rather be known as beautiful or kind? Athletic or kind? Talented or kind? Kindness isn't always the first thing we think of in a description of our desire. But every one of our desired qualities should be filtered through our kindness. I imagine that, that the very best people you know, imagine the very best people you know, I imagine, What many of them have in common is that they are kind.

And so, and this is pointing at myself maybe a little bit, would you rather be known as always right or always kind? Well, why not both, right? Reagan, why are you giving us the false me here? You know, like I want to be always right and always kind. Well, I, I, I see where you're coming from. I mean, I desire to always be right, but frankly, that's kind of unattainable.

I aspire to it. And hopefully I'm humble enough to be corrected when I am wrong so that I can become more right. But I'm not always going to be right. But I can always choose to be kind. I can, I can swallow the biting sarcasm, the condescending teasing, the passive aggressive manipulation, the harsh criticism, or the hypercritical judging.

I can swallow those things for kindness. Look again. I want you to turn back to Colossians chapter 3. This, this last turn in your Bible and the lesson will be yours. Turn back to Colossians chapter 3 that we read at the very beginning of this lesson. In Colossians chapter 3 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on these things.

What does the elect of God put on? Read, read with me again. Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another. Anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. And all of these qualities of kindness are manifested in The specific things that Paul then says about wives and their relationship with their husbands, husbands and their relationship with their wives, children and fathers and servants and masters.

He tells them to submit. He tells them to love. He tells them, do not be harsh, do not provoke, be sincere, be fair. And if we were to summarize those things in one word, we could do far worse than saying, be kind to one another in your relationships. And that is not just in what we do, it is in what we say.

As he brings this section to a close, in verse 6 of chapter 4, he says this. Let your, you Christians, let your speech always be with grace, we might say, with kindness, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. And so my final question for you is, how can I, how can you be more kind toward others?

What would that look like in every relationship? How can I be more kind with my family, with my friends? with my co workers, with my teachers. How can I be more kind to my patients? How can I be more kind to my brethren? Well, you might say, we're not dealing with Nazi Germany here, Reagan. People are too sensitive these days, and that's part of the problem.

Well, that's true. People are much more sensitive Then even 20 years ago, even in my lifetime, people have grown much more sensitive. But may I suggest that that only increases our responsibility to be kind to people. Not hiding or sugarcoating the truth. Don't misunderstand me, but being as thoughtful and as kind in our delivery of that truth as possible because we know people are so sensitive.

Is that what I desire to be known for? Is that what others admire me for? You know, that Reagan guy, he is so clever. Or is it that Reagan guy? You know what? Hopefully don't say he's as dumb as a box of rocks, but hopefully they say. You know, he's kind to other people. And in that, I'm shining the light on who is kind.

And maybe, there's something to this idea of being old enough to admire kind people. The older we get, the more we see that we need kindness. To see past our faults, especially from God, we need that kindness. And God is gracious enough to show kindness toward me and kindness toward you, despite our sins and despite our shortcomings.

And so I ask you, won't you accept God's kindness this morning by coming in humble submission to Him? to allow Him to wash away your sins, that you might rise to walk in newness of life, becoming kind like Him and like Jesus. And if we can help you with that, even now, come, while together we stand and while we sing.

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