Matthew 5:5 AMP
[5] “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:11 AMP
[11] But the humble will [at last] inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity and peace.
Psalms 37:37 AMP
[37] Mark the blameless man [who is spiritually complete], and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity]; There is a [good] future for the man of peace [because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants].
All the verses above speak to the process, benefits and consequences of being kind. The first verse above follows on from the teaching of Jesus to His disciples on the mountain, and it has to be noted again that the message is not for the indecisive crowd, but for the definite disciple. The nature of a disciple is someone who has chosen to follow in the footsteps of a leader or master. The disciple would have taken time to study the leader, and there will be attributes or characteristics that would be appreciated by the potential disciple, which he would love to emulate. Am I a disciple? It would mean that I have taken the time to know more about Jesus, His likes and dislikes, and what He demands from me. I am not compelled to follow Him; the decision is mine to make, after I have fully considered all options. Who are you: part of the crowd, or an actual disciple?
One definition available online of being kind is 'having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature'. Reflect on this: it is not a flash in the pan, where you get to do this once in a while, or when there are people watching; it is a lifestyle pattern; the normal way of working; a culture of practice, and part of the nature of someone who has met with the Lord who is the personification of kind. You cannot be a child of God, and not bear resemblance to the person you are supposed to look like. Being gentle does not mean that you do not have an opnion, or that people can ride roughshod over you; it just means that you have a way of presenting your position in a way that is not meant to intentionally offend, or cause people to wonder if you are truly who you say you are. It is the conviction of the inner man that drives the profession of the outer man.
Check out the other verses that have been indicated above, and you see the clear picture that God would have us consider: I do not have to react to everything that happens around me; I just need to be certain of who lives in me. His presence and power will be evident in my life. The promise of God for a life of gentleness and kindness is the inheritance of the earth. Let it be clear that the physical space of earth will eventually be destroyed by fire, but while it is in place, God will always settle the desires of the gentle with the riches of this earth. The world will not be able to ignore them, because their life choices and actions do not align with the nature of the world around them. The world needs men and women who dare to be different, and who can show the right kind of reaction to whatever pressure comes. Are you that kind of person? God's time of favour is here.
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