Your kindness leads to life

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25:35 NIV) 

A well known BBC reporter, Kate Adie, wrote a book called "Kindness to Strangers" in which she recounts her travels (mainly in war zones) and the many times strangers were kind to her either by giving her food or shelter. Even in a war, where people are deprived of the basic essentials, there is still kindness which can shine above their circumstances.

As I've thought about kindness, I see it's easy to be kind to your family or close friends, but it's harder to be kind to those in need or to those who are strangers or migrants. 

True kindness involves a cost and it involves giving. It's easy to be kind when we feel like it or when our own resources are abundant but it's not so easy when there is a cost involved, either of our time or resources. This is, I believe, true kindness. Kindness sees others who are in need and then reaches out to cover that need. The problem may have been caused by the other person, but kindness doesn't blame or seek revenge, instead it accepts and provides a covering of love. 

This is exactly what our Father has done for us in Jesus. In his loving kindness, he reached down and provided a covering for our sin and shame and has made a way for us to come back into relationship with him. As we allow him to be a Father to us, the spirit of sonship living in us will produce the fruit of kindness. We, like our Heavenly Father, will become kind to those in need, we will provide a covering for their faults and be able to show them the same loving kindness which we have received.