Where does kindness come from?
Nothing in the narrative of evolutionary biology can tell us why one human would act with compassion or thoughtfulness toward another. In a world where survival alone is supposed to be the highest goal, nothing disinterested happens. All human behaviors should only produce results for the one doing them.
Yet kindness exists. Parents nurture children, and not only to perpetuate their genetic line. Friends do “unnecessary” things for each other—providing emotional support in grief or loss or change. Even sworn enemies surprise us by laying down their weapons to offer comfort to the wounded.
The Bible tells us that all good things, including acts of kindness, grow from the kindness that began with God: “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
God’s enduring kindness toward each of us—for every human being is created in His image—flows from His heart of grace. “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39).
The grace of God moves every act of mercy and forgiveness. Receive that love. Then move the kindness forward.
And stay in grace. -Bill Knott
REGIFTING GRACE (September 17, 2021)
THE ORIGIN OF FORGIVENESS (September 10, 2021)
THE HOPE OF CHANGE (September 03, 2021)
UNFAILING LOVE (August 27, 2021)
SWEET SONG OF GRACE (August 20, 2021)
AGAINST THE TIDE (August 13, 2021)
GRACE AND TRUTH (August 06, 2021)
Bill Knott's Editorial: The Stories We Tell, August 2021
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: WALKING WITH THE GRACIOUS (July 31, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: GRACE AT RISK (July 23, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: WHEN GRACE WINS (July 16, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: FULL, RICH, AND FREE (July 09, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: THE GRACE WE GIVE (July 02, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: BETTER THAN WE REMEMBER (June25, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: THE POWER TO CHANGE (June 18, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: GETTING IT RIGHT (June 11, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: FINDING COMMUNITY (June 04, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: NO OTHER GOSPEL (May 28, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: PROOF OF LIFE (May 21, 2021)
Bill Knott's GraceNotes: HELD BY GRACE (May 14, 2021)
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