Volume 29: Be Loyal To Kindness

Day 133 Devotional

BE LOYAL TO KINDNESS

My only daughter’s name reveals a conviction. She carries the middle name Kindness. That was not an accidental choice. It was intentional.

Of all the names I could have given her, I chose Kindness because it reflects something I deeply believe about God and about the life of every believer. Kindness is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is love in action. It is choosing to reflect Christ when selfishness would be easier.

Yet we live in a culture that increasingly views kindness as a liability. Suspicion is called wisdom. Selfishness is called self-care. Indifference is called emotional maturity. People are taught to protect themselves, trust nobody, and expect the worst from everyone.

Unfortunately, none of this looks like Jesus.

The Character Of Christ

Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Notice when Christ loved us—not when we deserved it, appreciated it, or agreed with Him. He loved us while we were still in rebellion.

Modern culture says, “Protect your peace.” Jesus says, “Lay down your life.”

Modern culture says, “Match their energy.” Jesus says, “Bless them that curse you.”

Modern culture says, “What do I get out of this?” Jesus says, “Esteem other better than themselves.”

The conflict is unavoidable because Christianity was never designed to fit comfortably inside a self-centered world.

Kindness Is Spiritual Warfare

The fruit of the Spirit is not merely a list of virtues. It is a declaration of war against the flesh.

Love confronts hatred. Kindness confronts cruelty. Gentleness confronts aggression. Patience confronts entitlement. Every time a believer chooses compassion over revenge, forgiveness over bitterness, or service over self-interest, they reveal the character of Christ.

This is why Satan works so hard to convince believers that kindness is foolish. If he can make Christians ashamed of compassion, he can slowly remove the evidence of Christ from our lives.

Strong Enough To Love

No man was stronger than Jesus. Yet no man was more compassionate.

He touched lepers, washed feet, forgave sinners, restored failures, and died for His enemies. His strength did not diminish His kindness. His strength made His kindness possible.

The world already has enough critics, cynics, users, and takers. What it desperately lacks are believers who still look like Jesus.

The question is not whether people will take advantage of your kindness. Some will. And sometimes it will hurt. But the question is whether Christ will still be visible through your life when they do.

After all, the cross was not proof that Jesus was losing. It was proof that love was winning.

That’s why I gave my daughter the middle name Kindness. Not simply because kindness is beautiful, but because it reflects the beauty of Christ. In a world that honors power, popularity, and self-interest, believers should honor kindness.

We should defend it when others mock it, respect it when others dismiss it, and remain loyal to it when others abandon it. Make kindness popular again.

Show the world that kindness is not weakness but evidence of God’s strength working through surrendered people. Let kindness be seen in your words, your patience, your forgiveness, your generosity, and your love.

And when the world becomes colder, become kinder. For every act of genuine kindness reminds the world what Jesus looks like.