After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. (ESV)

William Wordsworth in ‘Lines composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey’, wrote about:

‘That best portion of a good man’s life,

His little, nameless, unremembered acts

Of kindness and love.’

Stephen Winward writes in his excellent book on ‘Fruit of the Spirit’: ‘Amid all that is superficial and transient in life, kindness, like the everlasting hills, endures.’

‘Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone,

Kindness in another’s trouble,

Courage in your own.’ (Adam Gordon)

It has been said that kindness is a language ‘The deaf can hear and the blind can see.’

We may be surprised to read about such kindness shown by the pagan natives of the island. Indeed, we may be surprised to find just where God’s kindness reaches us, and how, and through whom.

‘Luke…recognised ungrudgingly this great kindness of the pagans. Christians should be glad and grateful whenever they see kindness in those who do not belong to Christ.

This is not to deny, however, that there is a distinctive kindness, the grace of kindness, the fruit of the Spirit, given to those who belong to the fellowship of the Spirit. This new kindness, brought into the world by Jesus Christ, was, and should always be, distinctive of the Christian and the Christian community’ (Stephen Winward).

PRAYER: Lord, fill me please with ”the kindness of God”, and may it ever overflow to others (see 2 Samuel 9:1)