The Kindness and Goodness of God

"Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:12

"...Without kindness, goodness becomes harsh and self-righteous.

Without goodness, kindness becomes indulgent tolerance..."

Moore, Beth, Living Beyond Yourself

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed my homework. While I have a deep yearning attraction for the fruit of peace, it is the kindness and goodness of God that keeps me going.

Kindness comes from the Greek, chrestotes, meaning a tender heart and nurturing spirit. God is El Shaddai, the Father of sufficiency, the nurturing parent.

Goodness comes from the Greek word, agathosune, meaning benevolent and active goodness. This trait does not spare rebuke and sharpness to cause good in others.

Beth points out that the two pair up to make us both 'shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.'

God reveals His tenderness (kindness) towards us in many ways. We have been chosen as His treasured possession. (See Deuteronomy 7:6). He has said that He will never forget us, even though a nursing mother might. We are engraved into the palms of His Hands. (See Isaiah 49:16)

I like the picture that Beth gives of His Throne transformed into a Rocking Chair when He pulls His fearful, overwhelmed child into His arms, saying "SHhhh..it's OK, I'm here..." Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Some of us find it hard to see God as that tender nurturing parent, especially if our earthly parents were harsh and critical and vindictive in their parenting. Beth says we "relate more readily to God's sovereignty and severity than to His tender mercies." But just remember from this post here, unless we become like children to relate to God, how can we be godly parents to our own children? I was so blessed that my earthly father made it so easy for me to relate to the kindness of God. For many, it is not so. I invite you to boldly ask God to reveal the parenting love you always longed for, to reveal the delight He feels for you.

The goodness of God, on the other hand, may be either a pleasant or painful experience, but always with the intent of being beneficial for the kingdom. God predestined each of us for a 'good work." Ephesians 2:10 tells us that our works were assigned in advance. It is up to us to draw close to Him for Him to reveal it to us.

Beth looks at 2 Timothy 3:16-17 where we see God using His Word to equip us for good work by teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training for righteousness. Some of His Word, like His miracles and healings, are pleasant. However, we also see Jesus rebuking the sacrilegious use of the temple, not healing Paul's thorn in the flesh so that in his (Paul's) weakness, He (Jesus) could be strong. We see in Acts how persecution of the church caused them to be scattered around the world. The gospel then spread around the world. Finally, when Christ was crucified, the veil, His flesh, was rent from top to bottom so we could have access to the Holy of Holies, to our Father.

Beth paints a beautiful picture to illustrate the dual role of kindness and confrontational goodness. As a mother, there are many times when my sons do not respond favorably to my guidance. I may find it necessary to discipline them with words and or actions. This is so that my child does not grow up to be a contentious adult. What keeps me from 'abusing' my authority to this child is my tenderhearted disposition to my child. Beth says "the disposition of kindness safeguards the dispensing of goodness....you must be yielded to God to be a proper vessel of confrontational goodness."

Again, this brand of kindness and goodness are not possible without the Holy Spirit.

Father,
I come to You on behalf of those who have never known a kind parent. I ask You to lavish them with Your tenderness for them in ways that show them they are Your treasured possession. Allow them to glimpse the delight You take in them. Then, Father, even as they ask You why there has been so much trauma in their lives, show them the eternal profit in their characters, in the kingdom. Show them Your unique purpose designed for them. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.