Galatians 5:22 — Kindness
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
As we continue to focus on the character and nature of God described in these verses, we consider God’s kindness towards us. Pause for a moment and think with me — what does it mean that God is kind? What does it look like when God demonstrates kindness towards us? Why is kindness a supernatural phenomenon when we have all seen acts of kindness performed by people, whether Christian or not?
Go beyond the human idea of “random acts of kindness” for a minute and venture deeper into a spiritual and eternal realm in which kindness is an inherent part of how things work. True kindness is fundamentally transformative — when you receive it you are forever changed by it.
Romans 11:6 paints this picture for us:
“And since it [salvation] is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.”
Here’s your freedom for today: the kindness of God extends the offer of relationship to us. He has come to rescue and save because he is kind. Those last words, “free and undeserved” are why this supernatural kindness is so life changing. This is a no-strings-attached, eternally-lasting kindness that we are simply free to take. Or not. He’s not just being “nice” or “polite” — there is something far deeper in the kindness of God that comes with a gift of incredible worth.
Many of us believe in God and perhaps have been Christians a while, but we are still trying to be “good enough” to be really, really saved. It’s the most un-Gospel gospel message ever preached. If I have to be good enough, then why did Christ even come? The Gospel is good news only if it sets us free. So go ahead, take God’s kindness today. Live in total freedom because God at his very nature is kind to you.