Dear Church Family and Community,
There’s something about kindness that just resonates. It is free to give, and unsurprisingly, even better to receive. Quite often, the relief, joy, and love we feel from kindness surpasses the act done on our behalf.
One of God’s best gifts to us is kindness. For many of us, this is how we are truly introduced to God. For more of us, this is how we experience God’s love and care. And for all of us, this is how God graces us today, reminding us of past faithfulness and future goodwill.
God’s people are sustained by God’s kindness to us. The promises we hold on to are founded on the kindness of God. The breath we breathe is the kindness of God. Our hopes and dreams; our gifts, skills, and abilities; and all of our resources and competencies are everyday reminders of God’s kindness.
God’s greatest kindness comes to us in Jesus Christ. Titus 3:4-7 explains it like this:
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
God so loved us that he sent Jesus for us. God saves us through the work of Jesus not because of our righteousness, but because of his kind love and gracious faithfulness. God gifts us the Holy Spirit as a deposit of all his kind riches and goodness to come. We are so blessed, every day and in every way, to worship and serve our kind and most loving God.
God models kindness, and then invites us to do the same. In this world of trouble, a kind word can be an encouragement. In these days of seemingly endless mounting darkness, a loving act can spread some light. We have people all around us who need to see, hear, and feel the love of God…God can use your kindness to truly introduce himself a hurting and lost world.
In this Growing Season, we continue to focus on the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus teaches that he is the Vine, and his Father is the Gardener. We are the branches, and we bear fruit when we remain in Christ our Vine. Remaining in Christ is following Jesus’ commands and living by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit produces fruit. The fruit of life by the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This week during our service, we will focus on kindness. We will revisit how God has shown kindness. And we will be reminded of the importance of modeling the kindness we have received from God. Some questions to consider as you prepare to worship with us: How has God been kind to you? Do you think of kindness when you think of God, why or why not? Why is it important for us to be kind? How can you be kind to others this week? Today?
I was reminded by a good friend last week of how Jesus is the perfect exegesis of God. Scripture puts it this way, Jesus is the image of God and the perfect manifestation of God. God is kind. Jesus is kind. For us to understand God’s kindness, we can turn to Jesus. This entire season, God keeps teaching me the importance of keeping my eyes on Jesus.
Sisters and brothers, let us forever fix our eyes on Jesus our Christ, the author and finisher of our faith!!
May God’s kindness never leave you or forsake you. May the Spirit of God forever bless and keep you. And may Jesus always be in your hearts, on your tongues, and first in all of our lives!!
God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Ephesians 4:32)
P: (717) 561-2170, ext. 104
E: pastorhank@harrisburgbic.org