Consider this...

As followers of Christ, our hearts are compassionate for the lost. So, how do we put our compassion into action?

First, we need to understand the word compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.

Next, let's understand the word sin: a willful transgression of a known law of God, a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God, separation from God (distress).

And now the word distress: a state of danger or desperate need.

OK. So if sin (distress) represents a need and compassion represents knowledge of the need and desire to fulfill the need, what is next? How does one cross the bridge (death to life)?

KINDNESS

Kindness. I will say it again. Kindness. How does my kindness, my being nice - alleviate distress and cause someone with a need to pass from death to life? Could Something so SIMPLE do something so SUPERNATURAL? You bet!

Romans 2:1-4

1) Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2) And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3) But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same {yourself,} that you will escape the judgment of God?
4) Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Whoa - wait a minute.

Kindness leads to repentance???

God's Word is God's Word.

Let's look at Ephesians 5:8&9
8) for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9) (for the fruit of the Light {consists} in all goodness (kindness) and righteousness and truth).

The fruits of following Christ: Kindness, Righteousness and Truth, are the Essence of God.

Whoa again!

What is one attribute of God? Kindness/Goodness.

What is one fruit of the Spirit? Kindness.

The Essence of God - the individual, real, or ultimate nature of our God. It is the basis, the foundation, the beginning and eternal flow of who God is!!

So, if we are True Representatives of Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit is within us, and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us - His Kindness, His Fruit, His Attributes and His Essence - these will flow through us like Living Water - This Kindness will cause those who don't know Him, to EXPERIENCE Christ. It is not our words that will linger or impress or cause one to repent! But if the lost EXPERIENCE God through Kindness, God can draw them and cause them to sense their need for Him and will place in them a desire and can bring them to REPENTANCE.

Our words will be forgotten.

The Experience - they will never forget.

Be Disciples.