What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? —Micah 6:8 ESV
The Hebrew word in Micah 6:8 for kindness is hesed, and it’s found in many other places in the Old Testament. We see the word used as a descriptor of Jonathan and David’s relationship (1 Sam. 20:8). We also see it in the book of Ruth when Boaz described Ruth’s actions (Ruth 3:10).
Hesed is not merely an emotion or feeling; it involves action on behalf of someone who is in need. Hesed encompasses or captures a sense of love that prompts a different kind of behavior toward another. We can’t fully practice or embody hesed toward others without God. At the heart of hesed is God’s beautiful sense of compassion, grace, mercy, love, and kindness.
If you’re finding yourself struggling with showing kindness to others, then take some time to pray earnestly and ask the Holy Spirit to help you. This isn’t something we can do on our own. It’s a by-product of God’s work in our lives.
Make it Personal
In what types of situations do you struggle to be kind? Ask the Lord to help His kindness flow through you.