Today we continue our series on the values of the kingdom and the church.
They are based on the teaching of Paul in Col 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Last week we looked at compassion
This week we look at Kindness
Now this is a very important passage because Paul is saying
if you are Christians.
If God has chosen you to be one of his special children – which he has
If God has made you holy - which he has.
If you are dearly loved.
Dress yourselves as if that were true.
What does he mean by this how can we put on virtues as of they were something we could buy from Marks and Spencer.
Well let us put it this way.
When you wife knits you a jumper because she loves you and you love her.
You put it on. In fact you wear it as much as you can even if some others don’t like it because, you love her and you want to please her.
But if it is your mother in law who has made it -
You only wear it when she visits.
If you are chosen to play for a football team.
May be you have worked hard in training.
May be you have had to play really well to be selected.
Then on the first game you play for the team you forget your kit.
Or worse turn up in your last team’s kit.
What do you think you team mates would think? Not much.
What do you think would happen to Wayne Rooney if in the nest Manchester United home game he tried to play in Chelsea kit?
For practical reasons he would not be allowed to play.
But worse than that I think his career at United would be in crisis.
Especially if the were playing Chelsea that day or worse Manchester city!
Finally if you are doing a dirty job you have to wear the right clothes.
If you are doing a dangerous job you have to wear safety clothes.
So Paul is saying if you are a Christian you must dress as if you are a Christian.
That does not mean carry a bible or have a bumper sticker or a badge.
But clothe you selves in the following virtues.
Be Compassionate. Be kind. Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient
Be able to bear tough situations. Be forgiving. Be loving.
He asks you to do this because.
1, you should dress according to your status.
You are princes and princess now dress like one Prince Harry looks like a Prince should look.
2,you should dress so people will see you are loved chosen and holy,
Because unless you do, they will not see who you are, and who it is you serve.
3. You need to dress safely. Unless you do, you will be at risk.
So how does kindness work?
1. Paul tells us we should be kind to each other because Jesus has been kind to us.
2. He also tells us how angry Jesus gets when we are not kind.
3. We are all unkind, according to Paul
· When we judge others
· When we are stubborn
· When we are unrepentant
· When we are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,
4. According to Jesus is
· When we are concerned who is the most important
· When we do not welcome children
· When we try to stop others from doing good.
Better yet Jesus says simple act of kindness does not go un-noticed or rewarded by him. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
This means that even those who are outside the church
but help you because you serve Jesus are will be rewarded.
Paul says:
6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done."
7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.
So how can we be clothed in Kindness as the bible commands?
How can we become, as a church and as individuals, so kind that we become well know for it?
How do we reach a place where both the estate and the Town say:
“Whatever else you say about Christ Church people, they are kind.”
Remember the 3 “A”s of change. Attitude. Application. Action.
Attitude-What do have I to change in my mind set for this to work!
Answer the big questions.
Is this something Jesus wants me to do?
Is this something I only do when I have to?
Doe others seem me as kind?
Am I well known for this?
Do they see Jesus because I am kind?
Am I kind with out even thinking about it or do I have to really work at it?
Do I need some extra spiritual help to do this?
Am I going to put kindness at the top of my agenda from now on?
Application – Thinking through what it means before acting.
When I speak, am I Kind? When I act, am I Kind? When I think, am I Kind?
Am I more concerned to get the job done than being concerned about how people feel after I have spoken or acted?
Do I ever ask what is it like to receive what I am saying right now?
Is my plan going to help me or is it going to help everyone?
Can I say something to one person today that is true?
and will help them feel good about themselves?
From being the first to offer to help, rather than the last.
To not getting angry in the queue, to treating shop assistants with patience.
Am I doing this to help or
to make myself indispensable to others so they may like me?
Action What I do about it and keep on doing until it is automatic.
1.First of all pray the prayer every day.
2.Do a mouth check, a mind check, and an action check (letter/email check)
3.See people need, before you try and work out who they are.
4.Ask a question before you act. “Do you need any help?”
5.Always accept their answer with out comment.
6.Cultivate a climate of kindness around you.
8. If you notice some one who is not at church or home group give them a ring. You may save a life.
7. Seek to do a one kind act for everyone you know.
8. Make sure those who are close to you are treated better than those you don’t know so well.
Remember
1. Being kind helps you in a bad world, because the kinder you are
the more likely people are to be kind to you, and Jesus blesses us
2. Being kind reminds people more about the kindness of Jesus than anything you can ever say, And the Spirit will bless us.
3. Jesus was kind to you in so many ways. You should be kind to all you meet. And the Father will reward you.
4. Kindness is something that shows you have been washed and dressed by the king. So that you will look just like him and so every one will know you belong to him.
Let us make kindness a value in our church so everyone will see that Jesus is here and we love him because we are kind to all we know.
Amen
