Lead with Kindness
The Transformative Power of God's Steadfast Love
In a world that often seems harsh and unforgiving, the concept of leading with kindness stands out as a beacon of hope. But what does it truly mean to lead with kindness, and how can we embody this principle in our daily lives? The answer lies in understanding and embracing God's steadfast love – a love that finds us, restores us, transforms us, and keeps us.
The story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 beautifully illustrates this transformative power of kindness. David, now the king of Israel, remembers a promise he made to his dear friend Jonathan years ago. He seeks out any remaining members of Saul's family to show them kindness, not out of obligation, but out of a deep-seated desire to honor his covenant.
Enter Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who was crippled in both feet as a child. Living in a place called Lo-debar – which literally means "no pasture" or "no thing" – Mephibosheth was hidden away, likely fearing for his life as the grandson of the former king. But David's kindness seeks him out, restores his family's land, and elevates him to eat at the king's table "like one of the king's sons."
This act of kindness goes beyond mere charity. It's a reflection of God's own steadfast love towards us. In Exodus 34:6, God describes Himself as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." This is the kind of love that pursues us even when we try to hide, that restores us when we feel broken, and that transforms our identity from outcasts to beloved children.
How often do we, like Mephibosheth, feel unworthy of such kindness? We may see ourselves as "dead dogs," insignificant and undeserving of attention. Or perhaps we're like Ziba, Saul's servant, quick to point out the flaws in others and assuming that their conditions disqualify them from receiving love and grace.
But God's steadfast love doesn't operate on our limited understanding of worthiness. It finds us in our Lo-debar – those places of emptiness and insignificance where we try to hide our brokenness. It restores not just our circumstances, but our very purpose and identity. And it transforms us from enemies into family members, inviting us to feast at the King's table.
This transformative kindness isn't just a nice idea – it has the power to change lives and even alter the course of history. Consider the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American congresswoman, who visited her political opponent George Wallace in the hospital after an assassination attempt left him paralyzed. Despite Wallace's history of racism and opposition to her values, Chisholm chose to show him kindness, telling him, "I wouldn't wish this on anyone."
Her act of compassion, rooted in her Christian faith, serves as a powerful reminder that true kindness often requires us to go beyond what seems reasonable or politically expedient. It challenges us to see the humanity in even our fiercest opponents and to believe in the possibility of transformation.
Yet, as we reflect on these examples of extraordinary kindness, we must remember that our ability to show such love stems not from our own goodness, but from the steadfast love we've received from God. Romans 5:8 reminds us, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Jesus Christ, the true King, exemplifies this steadfast love in the most profound way. He left His heavenly throne to dwell among us, eating with sinners and tax collectors. Ultimately, He allowed Himself to be "crippled" on the cross, taking on our sin and brokenness so that we might be made whole.
Through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, we are found, restored, transformed, and kept by God's steadfast love. Yet, like Mephibosheth who remained lame even after being brought into the king's household, we still struggle with our "lameness" – the ongoing effects of sin in our lives and in the world around us.
The beauty of God's steadfast love is that it doesn't demand perfection from us. Instead, it meets us in our brokenness and continually works to heal and transform us. We are simultaneously broken and beloved, works in progress who are fully accepted at the King's table.
As recipients of this incredible love, we are called to extend it to others. This doesn't mean ignoring injustice or excusing harmful behavior. Rather, it means approaching others with the same grace and steadfast love that God has shown us. It means seeing beyond people's current condition to the potential for transformation that exists within them.
Leading with kindness in this way isn't always easy. It may not always be understood or appreciated. But it has the power to break cycles of hate, to heal deep wounds, and to offer hope in seemingly hopeless situations.
As we go about our daily lives, let's challenge ourselves to lead with kindness. Let's look for opportunities to extend God's steadfast love to those around us – especially to those who may feel unworthy or overlooked. In doing so, we become channels of God's transformative grace, participating in His work of finding, restoring, transforming, and keeping His beloved children.
Remember, no matter where you find yourself today – whether you feel like you're dining at the King's table or hiding away in Lo-debar – God's steadfast love is seeking you out. Allow yourself to be found, to be restored, to be transformed, and to be kept by this love that never fails. And as you experience this love more deeply, may it overflow from your life to touch and transform the lives of others.
In a world that often seems harsh and unforgiving, the concept of leading with kindness stands out as a beacon of hope. But what does it truly mean to lead with kindness, and how can we embody this principle in our daily lives? The answer lies in understanding and embracing God's steadfast love – a love that finds us, restores us, transforms us, and keeps us.
The story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9 beautifully illustrates this transformative power of kindness. David, now the king of Israel, remembers a promise he made to his dear friend Jonathan years ago. He seeks out any remaining members of Saul's family to show them kindness, not out of obligation, but out of a deep-seated desire to honor his covenant.
Enter Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who was crippled in both feet as a child. Living in a place called Lo-debar – which literally means "no pasture" or "no thing" – Mephibosheth was hidden away, likely fearing for his life as the grandson of the former king. But David's kindness seeks him out, restores his family's land, and elevates him to eat at the king's table "like one of the king's sons."
This act of kindness goes beyond mere charity. It's a reflection of God's own steadfast love towards us. In Exodus 34:6, God describes Himself as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." This is the kind of love that pursues us even when we try to hide, that restores us when we feel broken, and that transforms our identity from outcasts to beloved children.
How often do we, like Mephibosheth, feel unworthy of such kindness? We may see ourselves as "dead dogs," insignificant and undeserving of attention. Or perhaps we're like Ziba, Saul's servant, quick to point out the flaws in others and assuming that their conditions disqualify them from receiving love and grace.
But God's steadfast love doesn't operate on our limited understanding of worthiness. It finds us in our Lo-debar – those places of emptiness and insignificance where we try to hide our brokenness. It restores not just our circumstances, but our very purpose and identity. And it transforms us from enemies into family members, inviting us to feast at the King's table.
This transformative kindness isn't just a nice idea – it has the power to change lives and even alter the course of history. Consider the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American congresswoman, who visited her political opponent George Wallace in the hospital after an assassination attempt left him paralyzed. Despite Wallace's history of racism and opposition to her values, Chisholm chose to show him kindness, telling him, "I wouldn't wish this on anyone."
Her act of compassion, rooted in her Christian faith, serves as a powerful reminder that true kindness often requires us to go beyond what seems reasonable or politically expedient. It challenges us to see the humanity in even our fiercest opponents and to believe in the possibility of transformation.
Yet, as we reflect on these examples of extraordinary kindness, we must remember that our ability to show such love stems not from our own goodness, but from the steadfast love we've received from God. Romans 5:8 reminds us, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Jesus Christ, the true King, exemplifies this steadfast love in the most profound way. He left His heavenly throne to dwell among us, eating with sinners and tax collectors. Ultimately, He allowed Himself to be "crippled" on the cross, taking on our sin and brokenness so that we might be made whole.
Through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, we are found, restored, transformed, and kept by God's steadfast love. Yet, like Mephibosheth who remained lame even after being brought into the king's household, we still struggle with our "lameness" – the ongoing effects of sin in our lives and in the world around us.
The beauty of God's steadfast love is that it doesn't demand perfection from us. Instead, it meets us in our brokenness and continually works to heal and transform us. We are simultaneously broken and beloved, works in progress who are fully accepted at the King's table.
As recipients of this incredible love, we are called to extend it to others. This doesn't mean ignoring injustice or excusing harmful behavior. Rather, it means approaching others with the same grace and steadfast love that God has shown us. It means seeing beyond people's current condition to the potential for transformation that exists within them.
Leading with kindness in this way isn't always easy. It may not always be understood or appreciated. But it has the power to break cycles of hate, to heal deep wounds, and to offer hope in seemingly hopeless situations.
As we go about our daily lives, let's challenge ourselves to lead with kindness. Let's look for opportunities to extend God's steadfast love to those around us – especially to those who may feel unworthy or overlooked. In doing so, we become channels of God's transformative grace, participating in His work of finding, restoring, transforming, and keeping His beloved children.
Remember, no matter where you find yourself today – whether you feel like you're dining at the King's table or hiding away in Lo-debar – God's steadfast love is seeking you out. Allow yourself to be found, to be restored, to be transformed, and to be kept by this love that never fails. And as you experience this love more deeply, may it overflow from your life to touch and transform the lives of others.
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