When I think on the character of God, one of my favorite attributes is His kindness. Hearing the word “kindness” on a surface level might cause you to think of other words, such as “sweetness” or “softness.” While those words may also reflect human kindness, the kindness of God is so much more. It implies a steadfast, loyal love within a relationship with Him. His kindness is an active force that brings restoration and protection.
An amazing truth that I have learned about God’s kindness is that it extends even to unbelievers. Think about that! The same rain that waters your yard and makes your grass green makes theirs green as well. They see the same sunrises, mountains, and other beauty of the world just like you do as a believer. The fact that we wake up with breath in our lungs is a testament to God’s kindness and mercy. It is not just limited to those who have decided to follow Him.
While that is good news, it can be hard for the believer to see the kindness of God bestowed just as heavily (sometimes it feels like more so) on someone who mocks God or simply doesn’t understand or appreciate what He has done for them. Just like the older brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son, it can be tempting to ask “Why do they get the blessing as well? I’ve been here the whole time!” So why does God do it? Why does His kindness and love extend even to someone who doesn’t believe in Him?
It’s to bring them to repentance.
Romans 2:4 CSB “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
The word “repentance” means a change of mind. To repent is to change your mind and turn from your sin. If the kindness of The Lord brings an unbeliever to repentance, how can we do anything but rejoice? Galatians 5:22-23 shows that kindness is one of the nine fruits of the spirit. It is an attribute of someone who has decided to follow Jesus. This means that God uses US, those who are already His children, to bring kindness to a broken world. We are the very vessel that shows others who Jesus is! That can be so hard to do when our humanity tries to get in the way. It’s easy to justify not showing kindness to people who have really hurt us or hurt those closest to us.
I watched a clip of a message from Rachel Morley, a Christian worship artist, and it really spoke to my heart (and honestly brought me some healthy conviction). She said “Jesus did not just pay for the healing and the wholeness of the victim. He paid for the healing and the wholeness of the perpetrator. And when we can see that, when we can believe for, love, and long for the wholeness of the perpetrator as much as the victim, that’s when we understand the cross. That’s when we understand the gospel. This is the offensive grace of the gospel, that my enemies get to be my friends.”
That may sound extreme, but that is exactly what Jesus did. The ultimate kindness of the Father is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. He died to provide salvation to humanity. So, as Sons and Daughters, and bearers of His image, let’s represent Christ to a fallen world. The seeds of love and kindness you plant in someone’s life may just inspire them to find the source.
We would like to thank Courtney Harper for writing this post.
Women's Ministry 