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The theme for our reflection is kindness. Kindness means being generous, compassionate and considerate. Kindness is one of God’s attributes and it is experienced through His steadfast love for His creation and those who have a covenant relationship with Him. God’s kindness is the manifestation of His steadfast love and generosity. We shall reflect on the following questions
1. In which ways do we experience God’s Kindness?
2. How can we continually experience God’s kindness?

Firstly, there are diverse ways in which we experience God’s kindness in our lives. The Psalmist identifies two ways in which we experience God’s kindness. First, God is kind to us when we are weak and falling and giving up. In other words, God strengthens and elevates us from our troubles and challenges. The psalmist testified that “The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (Psalms 145:14). It means that in our frustrations, tribulations and endurance in humility in the Lord, we are not alone. In His own time, we shall experience His kindness through empowerment, elevation and greatness. After his brothers sold him into slavery, and after he was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison, Joseph experienced the kindness of God in the palace of Pharoah. We are told “Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. ⁴³ And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egyp (Genesis 41:41-43) Beloved in the Lord, God is always with us even in our most challenging and difficult moments and at His appointed time, His glory will manifest in our lives. Are you being pulled down to fall to retrogress in life, do not worry, look up to God who shall vindicate and elevate you in the presence of your enemies. Let us be greatly encouraged by David’s acknowledgement of God’s kindness when said that “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalms 23:5-6.

Secondly, we experience the kindness of God because He feeds us daily and fulfils our desires. The psalmist confirms this fact when he said that “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalms 145:15-16). The Lord is overwhelmingly kind because he continues to sustain and provides us with food, water, shelter, employment, money and success in our various endeavours. The psalmist could no longer understand God’s love and kindness toward humanity and was short of words, therefore he said “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalms 8:3-4). The Prophet Jeremiah also acknowledged God’s kindness in providing the needs of Isreal even in times of distress when he said, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; ²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) The chorus of one of our famous Hymns, “Count your blessings” admonishes us to “Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; See what God hath done. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God hath done.” Dear friend, even in times of economic hardship and uncertainty, God continues to be kind by providing our basic necessities of life. He is truly kind and merciful, It is for this reason the psalmist says that “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” (Psalms 103:1-2)

Secondly, after we have identified ways in which God has been kind to us, how then can we continue to experience His kindness? The psalmist teaches us that we shall continue to experience God’s kindness if we call on Him in truth. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalms 145:18). We cannot be in a relationship with God without being truthful to Him in our dealings with one another. Again, if we want to continue experiencing God’s kindness in our lives, we need to fear the Lord. It is, for this reason, the psalmist says that “He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Psalms 145:19) Beloved in the Lord, reverence to God takes nothing away from us but rather brings immeasurable blessings into our lives. Last but not least, we must love Him even as we continue to experience His Kindness in our lives. We are reminded by the psalmist that “The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (Psalms 145:20-21)

In summary, we have deliberated on the theme “Kindness” We have discovered two important facts about God’s kindness. Firstly, we have learnt that we experience God’s kindness in diverse ways in our lives and we identified that the Lord is kind to us by giving us strength and elevation from our challenges, He provides us with the basic necessities of life and other needs we desire. Secondly, we have learnt that to continue to experience God’s kindness in our lives we must consistently call on Him, fear Him and love Him. Shalom.

PRAYER
Almighty God, we acknowledge Your immeasurable steadfast love and Kindness in our lives. Honour and Praise be to your Holy Name! Holy Spirit, may you strengthen us to be kind to others just as God continues to be kind to us. Amen.