Thursday, October 17, 2024
For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
God’s Kindness Transforms Us
We see the kindness of God throughout the Bible in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Sometimes we think of the God of the Old Testament as one who is reigning down judgement on the people. But Jeremiah 9:23-24 says This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Kindness is an attribute of God and while humans can be kind, we are not always kind. But God’s attributes stay the same always. He is kind, so He has been, and He will be kind for all eternity – yesterday, today, and forever.
God is kind as far as “common grace” to all He has made, even when His creations are ungrateful and sinful. The Lord is good to everyone; His compassion rests on all He has made. Psalms 145:9 This kindness is meant to draw us to Him and lead us to repentance. 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? Romans 2:4
As believers we are fully immersed in God’s kindness as He delivers us from things like fear, troubles, and distress. He is kind in all ways. He saves us and protects us from hardships and walks with us through trials never leaving us alone.
God's kindness is most evident in our salvation that comes through Christ. Indeed, our salvation derives from the kindness of God and itis through continuing in his kindness that we are saved. Because of God’s kindness and love for us, He saved us. He forgave us and washed our sins away, making us a new creation in Him. He is kind and good. He made us His heirs with the hope of eternal life.
So that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift. Ephesians 2:7-8
God gave us Jesus – His only Son – to redeem us from our sin and be the sacrifice for us so we can have eternal life. Because of this sacrifice, we can have a relationship with God. This is the greatest kindness ever shown and it completely transforms our lives spiritually. Our transformed lives can impact others who may be transformed or impacted spiritually by His kindness spreading to them.
The kindness of God is what led to the provision of salvation, to green pastures and still waters, to restoration, to the protection of His wings, to rescue when we stray, and to so many, many blessings He gives us just because He is kind and loves us. Our relationship with this kind God will make His kindness evident to everyone around us through our lives.
