The Culture of Love and Kindness (C.O.L.K)

Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

God reaches toward His people with kindness motivated by deep and everlasting love. He is eager to do the best for them if they will only let Him. This reminder of God's magnificent love is a breath of fresh air. Rather than thinking of God with dread, look carefully and see Him lovingly drawing us toward Himself.

Titus 3:4-5 (NCV)

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, He saved us because of His mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with Him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit.

God’s kindness and love appeared in the human form of Jesus Christ. By His death, He saved us from our deserved punishment for disobeying God. He offered this salvation because of His mercy alone, not because we deserved it by doing good things. Paul summarized what God does for us when He saves us. God washed away our sins. When believers receive this washing of rebirth, all sins, not merely some, are washed away. We gain new life with all its treasures. The process is complete. We can experience what we have in new ways, but we have received the whole package! We live a “new” life because of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-17) whom He generously poured out upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. All three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in these verses because all three participate in the work of salvation. Based upon the redemptive work of His Son, the Father forgives and sends the Holy Spirit to wash away our sins and continually renew us.

The preceding texts give us a clear and practical way to affect our world, giving an undeniable witness of God and His love. God draws us to Himself through love and kindness.

We need to create a “culture of love and kindness,” encouraging a spirit of generosity, and love where everyone is accepted, celebrated and valued. In a culture of love and kindness, people stand up for and next to one another, all for one and one for all. We must instill, reinforce, and practice the values of love and kindness. We need to develop a pro-kindness strategy; a dedicated effort to teach, advocate, and model kindness that works.

Here are some practical steps we can take to promote a culture of love and kindness: 

(1) If you want to make a change you need to recognize that you and you alone are responsible for your own actions.

(2) If you don’t have something nice to say, then say nothing.

(3) The best way to make a change is to start with yourself.

(4) Treat others as you wish to be treated, and choose your words carefully.  

(5) Kind people are not passive and don’t look the other way when someone else is mean.

(6) We need to apologize to people we have hurt. It is the right thing to do and no one deserves to be hurt. This includes people that have been nasty to us. If you attack back you are just perpetuating the nastiness.

(7) You can stand up for yourself without tearing someone else down.

(8) We need to stand beside those that are hurt.

(9) Sharing your experiences helps others to understand they are not alone.

(10) It’s important to work together and help others learn from our experiences.

(11) BE A LEADER: SET AN EXAMPLE. You are intelligent, and kind, and want to stand up for what is right. Sometimes it’s hard to make the right choices but now is the time to stand up and do the right thing. Be courageous especially when the people around you aren't.

Love is the root of all of the fruit of the Spirit, and can be manifest in the following ways:

• Love's touch is: Kindness
• Love's character is: Goodness
• Love's habit is: Faithfulness
• Love's self-denial is: Gentleness
• Love singing is: Joy
• Love resting is: Peace
• Love enduring is: Patience
• Love in charge is: Self-control

What actions do we need to take this week to walk obediently according to the Spirit among the unbelievers we know? What acts of kindness, love, mercy, or helpfulness will you entertain so that the life of Christ in us will touch and bless others?

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity (Colossians 3:12-14).