Have you ever heard or maybe even said “kill them with kindness”? I know I have heard it and said it many times over the years. Basically when the world is being mean to you, be nice to them anyways, right?
When my children were younger, I would tell them this alot of times when dealing with bullies at school. And even as an adult, I see this message spread around on social media a lot. And sometimes I feel the need to be the same way. Even if I don’t really care for this person’s attitude or personality, I’ll try to be nice to them when I’m around them. Nothing wrong with that, is there?
Think about these words. How is killing someone kind? Your going to be kind, but deep down you want them dead? I know that isn’t what most people are really thinking when they say that, but it’s kind of what it means. You really don’t like this person, but you are going to be nice to them anyways. This can lead to sin in other ways as well.
If you are nice to them but you really don’t like them, and you know other people don’t like them, then you are going to be tempted to gossip about them when they aren’t around. Or you may have evil or unkind thoughts toward that person, which is also sinful. (For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. Luke 8:17) (Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:5,6)
So, in praying about this recently I felt the Lord speak to me. He said, “maybe instead of killing them with kindness, you should love them like Jesus”. And this has resonated with me for a couple of weeks now. We should love people just simply because we are commanded to. We should love their hearts and their souls. We don’t have to love their actions and we can speak truth to those people in love if they are living sinfully. We should pray for them. And I guarantee you that when you start to pray for them, you will start to love them. You will care about their souls even if they keep disappointing you in the flesh. (Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4)
It boils down to what is in our hearts. If our heart is full of sinfulness, we are going to have a very hard time loving anyone else. If our heart is full of ugliness, it is going to spill out onto others in some way. And if we claim to be a christian, but our words or actions aren’t a reflection of Christ, we can hurt our testimony.
In order to overcome this sinfulness, we must die to ourselves daily and agree to live for Him. (I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20) Everyday pray and ask God to show you your heart and ask God to remove any filthiness and forgive you of your sins. And in order to grow in our walk with God, we must read God’s word daily, and we must pray to him continually! (Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalanions 5:17)
We absolutely cannot do this on our own. Believe me when I say that I had my toes stepped on with this truth as well! I believe this is a struggle for most people! That is why we need a perfect, sinless Savior. If we could do it on our own, we wouldn’t need Jesus! (I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:10)
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:18-21
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44
saltandlight 
Leave a comment