God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.
Lovingkindness in us! Yesterday we mentioned changing from our own mind to having the mind of Christ. How do we know this is actually happening in us? The Father’s lovingkindness brings us to repentance, we turn from being the god of our life, we receive Jesus payment on the cross for our sin, and we receive Jesus as our very life, our Lord.
Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “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.” (KJV)
He lives in me! He lives in you!
The author of the Word – The Bible, the One who spoke and creation came into being, the One who spoke and the seas calmed, the One who speaks to the dead and they rise to life, the One who with one word will end the battle of Armageddon and the 7-year tribulation. He has all authority! He is King of King’s and Lord of Lords! He lives in us! He lives in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. When He comes in, things change!
Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (NKJV)
He changes us from the inside out! I used to go to Metro Bible Study and remember Dan DeHaan teaching about Paul. Dan would help us to think about Paul in prison. He would imagine Paul’s voice in a very dim cell being heard by other inmates, singing truth about Jesus… as it echoed down the halls of the jail late in the night.
It’s no longer I who live now, But Christ who liveth in me…
It’s no longer I who live now, But Christ who liveth in me!
In me, in me, it’s Christ who liveth in me,
It’s no longer I who live now, But Christ who liveth in me!
And through tears and probably through pain, but with great joy, Paul would sing it! Maybe over and over again…. and the other prisoners would hear the infectious song of lovingkindness…and some would come to repentance. The same Spirit that lives in Paul lives in us!
Paul says in Galatians 5:22-25 that kindness and goodness is from the one who IS lovingkindness. His Spirit gives to us not only to live in kindness and goodness, but as we live it out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember Agape Love that we mentioned earlier?
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
The hesed, the very love that The Father loves us with is the same love that we’re to love Him with, as well as our neighbors. We can’t do this without the Spirit living in us! He has given His fruit to us to glorify the Father. May there be such lovingkindness in our lives that others will see, repent, and receive Jesus as their all in all!
Reflection:
- How have you seen the mind of Christ changing you?
- Do you see how His Spirit dwelling in you gives you the fruit of His Lovingkindness? Has it made a difference in how you love your neighbor?
Prayer:
Father, may we hear You ever so clearly in our heart, through Your word, and in Your Spirit. May we always live in the power of Your Spirit, and always be aware of Your presence. You never leave us or forsake us! Thank You that Your lovingkindness is better than life. May we glorify You as we love you completely and fully, and may we know more fully how we’re to love our neighbor in that very way. In Jesus’ name!
