The Power of Lovingkindness

By: Eldon Kibbey

Understanding the Heart of ḥeseḏ

The concept of “lovingkindness” is central to the character of God. In the book of Exodus, when God shared His character with Moses, He used the Hebrew word ḥeseḏ twice to describe Himself. This word is so multifaceted that different Bible versions translate it as mercy, faithfulness, or steadfast love.

In the Old Testament, it is most frequently rendered as mercy. Mercy is often defined as “not giving us what we deserve”. It is God’s choice to love and be kind to us despite our flaws and sinfulness.

From ḥeseḏ to Grace

As we move into the New Testament, this theme continues through the word grace, defined as unmerited favor. This is the ultimate expression of lovingkindness: God choosing to love us in ways we haven’t earned.

The most famous example of this is found in John 3:16, where God’s love for the world led Him to give His only Son so that whoever believes might have eternal life. This act provides both grace (favor we don’t deserve) and mercy (freedom from the punishment we do deserve) through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A New Commandment: Love in Action

This divine love is not meant to stop with us. Jesus gave a “new commandment” to His followers: to love one another just as He has loved them. While this certainly applies to our “brethren”—our brothers and sisters in Christ—Jesus pushes the boundaries even further. In Matthew 5:44, He instructs us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

How Do We Live This Out?

If loving everyone—including enemies—sounds impossible, that’s because, on our own, it is. The document highlights that we do this by abiding in Christ.

• The Source: It is the Holy Spirit who produces “fruit” through us.
• The Sequence: This fruit begins with love.
• The Result: As we choose to submit to the Spirit and show love, we experience the rest of the “fruit”: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Ultimately, lovingkindness is not about our own effort; it is about God using us as vessels to share His character with the world.

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