Lovingkindness means tenderness in mercy, compassion and consideration towards others. It is an attribute of God, from time immemorial, which is revealed in His dealings with man. It is the prerogative of God to show lovingkindness to the human race. Interestingly, it is a combination of two of the fruit of the Spirit (love + kindness), as written in Galatians 5:22.
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The word love is written in continuous tense- loving, because it is an expression of God’s constant act of deep affection and kindness to the world. God’s lovingkindness can best be explained as His steadfast and unchanging love for man. God loves us in a way that it is completely unfathomable, but in a way that we can all experience it. He crowns us with His lovingkindness and clothes us with His tender mercies. Jeremiah 31:3 says: *“The Lord has appeared of old to me saying: Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”* The above scripture means that by faith in Jesus, we are now loved by God in the same way that the Father loves His Son. It is an everlasting love that has always been and will always be! It is a faithful love that can neither wane nor waiver due to our unfaithfulness. One of the most poignant examples of lovingkindness in the Bible is when Jesus Christ showed compassion at the grave of Lazarus. When Jesus saw Lazarus’ friends weeping, He wept as well due to his depth of compassion and empathy (John 11:33-35). Times without number, our Lord Jesus Christ had compassion on people; healing and comforting them. The blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who sat by the road begging, was a recipient of the Lord’s lovingkindness. He cried out aloud to Jesus Christ, asking for nothing but mercy. *“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”* (Mark 10:47). Divine mercy is a by-product of God’s lovingkindness. Friend, it is indeed an awesome thing to permanently attract God’s lovingkindness and perpetually dwell therein. When He shows you His lovingkindness, your ways will always please Him! In the belly of fish, Jonah acknowledged God as being *gracious, merciful, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm* (Jonah 4:2).
Beloved, God is always willing to reach out to you with His lovingkindness and mercy; but sin often constitutes a barrier. I beseech you to forsake your sinful ways and come to the knowledge of His dear Son, Jesus Christ. March into this month with His lovingkindness. Happy new month!
