Kindness is one of the greatest weapons in kingdom warfare. It is God’s primary weapon for leading people to repentance. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).
God, through Paul, gave Timothy negative and positive instruction—how not to witness and how to witness. “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:23-26).
People do not generally associate kindness with repentance. Repent is considered a harsh word. Repentance is a requirement. Yet kindness and gentleness are God’s means of causing it to happen.
God, through Paul, gave Timothy negative and positive instruction—how not to witness and how to witness. “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Tim. 2:23-26).
People do not generally associate kindness with repentance. Repent is considered a harsh word. Repentance is a requirement. Yet kindness and gentleness are God’s means of causing it to happen.
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