The other day a stranger bought me a bottle of water since I forgot my wallet in the car. This parched breast feeding mama was so very thankful in that moment! I had been going non stop all day and just needed some cold water to quench my thirst. So grateful for the stranger who overlooked my forgetfulness and purchased me that water bottle. Like for real y’all, that stranger was the real MVP!

One time I was out to eat with hubby for breakfast and a random man came up to pay for our meal. Super kind right! But wait, it gets even better… 3 years ago I was an English Teacher and during my first month as a teacher, a former teacher from that high school, who I had never met before, sent me a $400 check in the mail along with the sweetest note that expressed her gratitude for me being at that school with her old students. I remember checking the mail that day and bursting into tears when I opened up her envelope after a long day at work. My heart needed those kind words of encouragement. Immediately I reached out to her friend who worked with me so that I could get her phone number to call and say “thaaaank yoooou sooo muuuch”. Acts of kindness ought to produce something in us. What if she never heard from me after sending that letter and check… wow she probably would have felt unappreciated or even confused as to if that act meant anything to me. The proper response to these acts of kindness shown to me were a humble “thank you so much”. There was no way I could have experienced their kindness and not respond to it; it’s not everyday that kind things like that happen. God used all 3 of these kind acts to encourage my soul on different levels whether big or small. But you know what no one has ever done for me? No one has ever overlooked my sin and died for me, But Jesus. When I compare every other beautiful act that we do for one another, they don’t ever come close to comparing to what happened on the cross over 2,000 year ago for you and I.

In our world today, we have definitely overlooked the fact that Kindness is so much bigger and deeper than nice random acts. God’s kindness is so much bigger than Him allowing us to have that new car, job, house, a baby, a spouse, dating relationship, promotion, etc… though these are blessings, God is much more invested and interested in our soul rather than our status.

Romans 2:4 says it so perfectly and powerfully…

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”

Is God kind? Yesssss! He most certainly is. His kindness is not like ours; it’s not just intended to make us “happy“, or smile, or encouraged, or more well off financially. He paid a high price to purchase our redemption with His act of kindness. God’s kindness literally overlooked our sin by offering us a savior named Jesus, offering us a way out of death and destruction, granting us forgiveness for our sin, and showing us a new way of living life through His word and Holy Spirit. The primary purpose of His kindness is to produce transformation in our lives. I am so grateful that God’s kindness did not stop at a kind gesture or act; it didn’t stop at Christ dying on the cross. After His kind act, He gave us the good news of the gospel and the ability to willfully respond to what HE already did for us. But how do we properly respond? It can’t be with mere words of “thank you so much”. Though those words expressed are a step in the right direction, faith is gratitude in action and our true “thank you” is expressed through obedience. So what ought to be our response to God’s kindness? A repentant heart. Repentance is the only reasonable and right response! Repentance means to turn away from our sins and to turn to God! Repentance isn’t a one time thing, it’s our daily reality as we walk with Christ. Our response initially is also to be baptized (immersed in water) for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38-41). And then as we respond, God is gracious enough to give us the gift of the His Holy Spirit that dwells inside of every Christian. So it’s that simple? Repent and be baptized, and walk/live out a surrendered and obedient life in Christ? Yes, this is what is expected of us who seek to follow Christ. Our response to this kind of kindness is so simple compared to the kind of agony Jesus had to suffer and endure to be able to express this kindness to us. Our obedience to Christ is our act of love.

So have you responded to His kindness yet or have you bought into the lie that God’s kindness can’t reach you or transform you? Or maybe you don’t fully understand it because no one has ever taught you. Or maybe it’s so hard for you to see God as kind due to all of the craziness on our world today… Either way, today I’m praying for you (whoever you are) and I’m championing you on to receive the sweetest kind of kindness that all other acts of kindness stand next to.

He loves you like so much and wants so deeply for you to grab hold of this sweet grace he has to give! If you are one who just doesn’t understand God’s kindness enough to respond to it, I wanna chat with you! I wanna tell you the testimony of a girl who was so broken, wounded and didn’t learn about his kindness until almost 8 years ago when she responded. Then I wanna tell you all about the Man Jesus who made all that possible. That girl was me and I’m forever grateful for the kindness of God.

I pray that this post has encouraged a seeker who maybe once couldn’t see God’s kindness due to the craziness of our fallen world today or even for the Follower of Christ who has forgotten what God’s kindness looks like. Whichever category you fall into, I know it’s not my chance that you’ve stumbled across this blog. I’m cheering you on in your journey with Jesus. He loves you abundantly.

Be loved,

-Amy