Epaggelia

Perhaps the most attractive virtue of Christ during his ministry was the way he was so approachable and gentle in his response to anyone. Yet, today, most people are really attracted to the reason he died and was raised from the dead. But his character was full of grace and mercy during his work in training the twelve disciples and teaching the public. Jesus also points out that kindness is in the character of our Father:

Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is KIND to ungrateful and evil people.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:35)

Do we accept that being kind towards ungrateful & evil people is part of our discipleship? 

How do we even define our discipleship?

The way we learn to emulate the attitude and cause of Christ is what should shape our personal and public discipleship towards Jesus. What is the most common word used to describe members of the church in the New Testament? Disciples! Jesus knew that his followers should be more than just believers, but using the term disciple, meant believers in Him should be learning and putting to use what they learn. What did Jesus want all of his believers to learn in Matthew 11:29-30?

 “Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is EASY to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

The Greek word for describing the yoke we are to bear, can be translated “kind”, but the word “easy” is used to describe an object like a yoke, but if your yoke is discipleship, then kindness is exactly how we should be treating others when we try to emulate Jesus. Our discipleship should be full of kindness, that is taking it easy on how we treat everyone we meet.

To the apostle Paul, kindness was like part of the clothing of Christ we dress ourselves with, described in Colossians 3:12-14. How do you show off kindness like apparel you may wear? Doesn’t the kind of clothes you wear affect your posture and maybe even the way you act? What are ways you can be kind to others?