photo credit: RebelBlueAngelToday I am continuing on my series about incorporating Christian virtues into your blog.  This entire series is based on Colossians 3:12-25 and the virtues that are listed that we as Christian should strive to have in our lives.  Once we are saved we become a new person and the “old man” is put away.

The virtues listed in Colossians 3:12-25 include holiness, mercy, kindness, humbleness, meekness, and longsuffering.  The first post in this series was about mercy and today I am going to write about kindness.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:12

According to the verse above we are to put on kindness. What does it kindness mean exactly? I found the perfect definition at DiscipleshipTools.com by Dr. Richard J. Krejcir:

Kindness (Rom. 2:1-4; 12:9-21; Ephesians 4:32; Col. 3:12-14; 1 John 3:16-23) is the medium through which Christ’s love becomes tangible through us. It is practicing benevolence and a loving attitude towards others. Kindness is the essence that shows the world that we are a Christian, like the fragrance coming from a flower. It is being convicted with God’s Word, and then modeling it to others. Kindness is the subject to the object of who we are in Christ!

WOW!  Kindness is a way in which Christ’s love becomes tangible through us!  It is being benevolent and having a loving attitude.  Kindness is a way for others to see Christ in us.  Webester’s dictionary defines it as, “Showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious.”

So how can we apply this kindness to our blog?  Oh let me count the ways!

1. Have a loving attitude.
   When you write your blog posts who do you write for and do you love that person or those people?  If you are blog is targeted towards mothers do you have a passion and love for them?  If you blog just for yourself do you love yourself?  I know there are a lot of different opinions on this, but I personally think you need to be blogging about something you have passion about.  Something you love.  For me that is the Lord.  So I blog about the Lord and how I and other people can incorporate Him into our blogs.  It’s effortless for me because it is my passion, my love.  The passion and love for a subject and audience shows through your writing as well.  Having a loving attitude will help you, your writing, and your audience grow.
2. Be Gracious.
   Luke 6:31 tells us, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.“  This is common sense.  It seems like it is forgotten a lot in today’s society.  If someone leaves a comment on your blog, email that person back saying thanks, visit their blog and leave a comment, or even better do both!  It always makes my day when I receive some type of response to my comments.  If you are hosting a giveaway, tell the sponsor thank you!  If you have sponsor’s who purchase ad space, tell them thank you!  Tell your readers thank you!  Most of this stuff is common sense but can make a huge difference in your blog.
3. Be adverse to causing pain.
   Don’t knowingly cause others pain. If you know leaving a comment on a certain blog post would cause the writer to be hurt, is it really necessary to do?  Don’t openly flame a person on your blog.  According to the Bible if we have a problem with someone we are to talk them privately first to try and work out any differences.  Blaring all your issues with another blogger online never does of you any good.  Just think before you do.

By doing these simple things we are incorporating the Christian virtue of kindness is our blogs and we are also showing the love of Christ.  We are acknowledging we are separate from the world, we are children of God.  We need to start acting like it and can do so by showing simple acts of kindness.