God’s Kindness

Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Romans 2:4 (ESV)

Real kindness isn’t born by pushing harder. Or by squeezing it out like lemon juice. Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. God’s kindness is powerful and generous towards us. Even so, He asks us to bear His fruit. When we bear spiritual produce, we become like Him for His sake.

God’s kindness is demonstrated through His heart of forgiveness and tenderness towards the undeserving. We are all undeserving of his faithful lovingkindness. But He planned for us to be in vibrant relationship with Him. His generosity is meant to change our hearts so deeply that we turn to Him from our own ways.

To presume on the riches of His kindness is to be shamelessly irreverent. How dare I despise and forget the provision of God’s kindness? And yet I do—and regularly. Ungratefulness sets in and my heart hardens. Despite this, He withholds punishment and suffers long over my waywardness.

So, how do we stop taking the Lord’s kindness so lightly?

First, we praise Him. We adhere to and remain in Jesus, the true Vine (John 15:1a). As a branch in the Vine, we are constantly and fully nourished. We allow God’s word to flow into and through our hearts like nutrients flow through the xylem in plants. Eventually, blossoms appear, and then the fruit develop.

When I meditate on, appreciate, and receive God’s everlasting kindness, I become kind like Him. His kindness will be evident in my life and be experienced by others, including my enemies. I encourage you today, to embrace the riches of God’s kindness and express gratitude. Soon His fruit will be evident to others who are helpless and hopeless. God is pleased as we turn to Him in repentance.

I choose to humble myself before you, Lord, and receive your kindness in continuous thanksgiving. May I reflect your kindness so that others may be satisfied by your fruit.

Karen Sims