Martin Luther: Double Kindness

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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Christ is yours, presented to you as a gift. After that it is necessary that you turn this into an example and deal with your neighbor in the very same way, be given to him also as a gift and example… This double kindness is the twofold aspect of Christ: gift and example.”

Martin Luther as cited by Kelly Kapic in God So Loved, He Gave: Entering the Movement of Divine Generosity (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) 150.

Think about double kindness for a moment. It’s the posture of Jesus toward us and the pathway for our living toward others. Christ is gift and example to us. Our lives are a gift to others. We get to live, give, serve, and love like Jesus. And in so doing, we are an example to others of generosity.

Are you living as an “indescribable” gift? Are you setting an example that others would want to follow? Ponder these questions today. Start by thinking about the gift aspect. Then consider the example you are setting for your children, family, friends and/or co-workers.

Only when we understand the double kindness of Christ, can we extend it toward others. Receive the gift. Follow the example. This is the pathway to understanding and practicing Christian generosity. As you grasp double kindness, you realize it’s so awesome that it’s indescribable.