We are living in a time when emotions are running high. We are seeing people exposing themselves in the worst way possible. People are just being mean. It seems that the Internet has given a megaphone to those people and now they can manifest who they really are, without the need to hide their real character. The worst part is that they feel good vomiting those evil words all over the place, not preoccupied with whom will read them. We are witnessing a little bit of everything, from fake news to bullying and everything in between.
A few days ago, I saw people posting something very stupid on Facebook, and I was very tempted to write something and let them know how stupid and blind they were. Thank God, writing for me is more challenging. So, while I was putting my thoughts together to reply to them I had time to realize that it would not work, I would be as mean as they were, and I really did not need to do that. This is one of the benefits of having English as a second language. But the temptation was there, and I was very upset.
Being nice has become something out of fashion. In the New Testament we have three words for being nice. One means being kind and benevolent. This is the word that we find in this text: “Col. 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, KINDNESS, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Another one means good and positive. Among other texts, we find that word here: “Rom. 15:2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his GOOD, to build him up.”
Finally, we have the word gentle. Here are the texts: “1Th. 2:7 but we were GENTLE among you, like a mother caring for her little children.” “2Tim. 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”
As you can see the followers of Christ must be nice to other people. We should be nice first to our neighbors. That includes everybody around us. It does not mean only our family, the members of our church, or the people who have the same political view that we have.
Being nice and kind also involves words and deeds. If someone around us needs help, no matter who they are, the color of their skin, their social status, or political affiliation, our obligation is to be nice, kind, and do something to help them.
Finally we need to be nice all the time. I know that this is a big challenge for many of us. Being nice, good, kind, and gentle must be part of our character as disciples of Christ. Paul includes kindness as an element of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). We also cannot forget that we represent the Kingdom of God on this earth and to our neighbors. The Bible calls us ambassadors (2Corinthians 5:20). Therefore we should discipline ourselves and make every effort to be nice to other people.
Have a blessed week,
Pastor Lucas