Some people are incredibly kind and compassionate in the way they consistently treat others; however, due to the surface similarity of the two, the depth of difference between kindness and compassion can be overlooked.
While kindness is a spirit of benevolence that reflects our concern for others and the friendly and generous ways we treat people, compassion, is the spirit of mercy that motivated the Good Samaritan. He was moved to lay aside hatred and to cross social barriers to help the badly-beaten man who had been left for dead.
You can be kind without being compassionate, but, I don’t think you can be seen as compassionate without also being kind. In Ephesians, Paul instructs the believer to practice both: You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you (4:31-32).
Acts of kindness and compassion, should be more than a theoretical discussion over a cup of coffee; these fruits of the Spirit are worthy of more than just lip service.
How can you begin to live a life of kindness and compassion? I suggest you place a bookmark at Philippians 2:3-4, and use it as a reference point. Read it frequently and follow its principles faithfully. To get started ask yourself some questions from this verse:
- What is it that motivates me?
- Am I known more for selfish ambition or humility?
- If I treated myself the way I treat others, would I be pleased with my actions?
- Am I too self-consumed to show concern for the plight of others?
I share the words that follow, as a prayer for today and as a conclusion to this discussion:
Lord, help me to love with both words and deeds,
To reach out to others and meet their needs;
Lord, burden my heart for those lost in sin,
With mercy and love that flows from within. ~Fitzhugh
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My love for the game of baseball started at an early age. It’s a game I played with my dad, my brothers, and my friends. Summer nights were spent at the ball diamonds where I was either playing or shouting words of encouragement to my buddies who were.
Mother Teresa has said: Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
If you could look inside your head, would you find the thought center of your mind dotted with the warts of worry and the ulcers of anxiety? If so, you might find some comfort in the potent promise of Isaiah 26:3: You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
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One among the many things that I lack is the ability to sing well. This is why I like the words of Psalm 96; it encourages us to sing a “
When you encounter a unique life experience, begin a new job, or you’re introduced to a new concept, do you find yourself with more questions than answers? If so, a question and answer session can be helpful.
Should I stay or should I go? Should my answer be yes or no? Some decisions are easy to make, but there are times when choices leave us baffled and befuddled.
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