Focus: The Kindness Of God (Pt.2)

Text: 2Sam.9:1,3

"And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?… And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the KINDNESS OF GOD unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet."

A lot of people are missing out on the kindness of God because those responsible for sharing and spreading it are no where to be found. Our world is filled with a lot of Mephibosheths who are looking for the Davids to show them the kindness of God. 

The truth is that a David today may be a Mephibosheth tomorrow. All of us are constantly in need of the kindness of God, and whoever shows it to us will be our David at that point in time. If you are in need of divine kindness, you are a Mephibosheth, and at any moment you have the kindness of God to give to another, you then become a David.

Luke writes about a certain people who showed Paul and his men the kindness of God, "And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold" (Act.28:2). Luke calls them "the barbarous people" and "barbarians," meaning that they strangers or foreigners, but who possessed in themselves the divine capacity to show kindness to others in need of it, regardless of who they were or where they came from. 

We are all human beings in need of God's kindness. Our race, sex, social status, color or religious inclination should not bar us from receiving whatever blessing God desires to extend to us through others.

It was no small kindness that Paul and his men received from strangers. In the season of rain and cold, the people provided a fireplace to keep them warm. Interestingly, those who show us the kindness of God must themselves be recipients of the same kindness. The psalmist says, "Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his MARVELLOUS KINDNESS in a strong city" (Ps.31:21). The kindness of God is marvelous. It provokes our sense of wonder and stirs our hearts to worship. It makes us want to return and spread the same kindness that we have received. After all, no one can give what he does not possess.

Just imagine how God transformed the story of Esther into something glorious. The Scripture says, "And the maiden PLEASED him, and she OBTAINED kindness of him; and he SPEEDILY gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he PREFERRED her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women" (Esth.2:9).

There was this aura which Esther had on her, a charm that no one could have passed her without noticing or perceiving it. There was something about her that drew everyone's attention. She had the fragrance of divine grace on her. She looked radiant and smelled sweet. Her aura and aroma could not be ignored. It seemed that God took Esther into His beauty shop, applied on her the cosmetics of grace, bestowed spiritual elegance on her, and transformed her into a would-be queen. Among her fellow contestants she looked different and caught the attention of the right kind of people - those in positions of power who could influence good outcomes in her favor. The sweet scent of grace oozed from her as she walked past every place.

Do you know that divine grace connects you to human kindness? People will show you kindness without knowing what is pushing them to do so. The favor of God upon your face attracts the kindness of men. 

I pray that you carry an appearance and aura that will make people favor you! I also pray that you spread good smell as you do your job or go about your business from day to day.

O, may the principal law by which we lead our lives be the law of kindness according to Prov.31:26! Esther eventually became a queen in a strange land, and God used her to save her people and advance their fortunes in a foreign land. 

Let God use you to release to others the favor you have received from Him! Show someone today the kindness of God! The kindness in your heart is for someone else. Show it. Give it. Share it. Spread it. Transmit it. Pass it on to others who need it!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter