Walking in Kindness
Have you ever felt caught in a spiritual bait-and-switch? You heard about the transformative power of faith, listened to stories of lives changed in an instant, and eagerly jumped in with both feet. But then, reality hit. While everything changed, somehow nothing seemed different at all. This paradox lies at the heart of our spiritual journey, challenging us to understand what true transformation looks like.
The path of faith isn't always smooth. We often find ourselves trudging along, facing the same challenges we did before our conversion. It's easy to give up on the destination when we feel defeated by the journey. But perhaps our expectations need adjusting. The call to "take up your cross and follow me" isn't exactly a statement that delivers a lot of hype, is it? Yet it's at the core of what it means to walk with God.
Interestingly, loving God isn't usually the hardest part of our spiritual walk. It's the second great commandment that often trips us up: loving our neighbor as ourselves. People, with all their complexities and imperfections, present the real challenge. While God's plans are always good, people's plans can be selfish, misguided, and difficult to deal with. It's in our interactions with others that we often revert to old patterns, struggling to manifest the fruit of the Spirit we so desire.
Consider the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus tells of a young man who demands his inheritance early, essentially wishing his father dead. He squanders his wealth on wild living, only to find himself destitute and desperate. In a moment of clarity, he decides to return home, hoping to be taken on as a mere servant. But his father, seeing him from afar, runs to embrace him, restoring him fully as a son and throwing a celebration in his honor.
It's a beautiful picture of God's love and forgiveness. Many of us can relate to the prodigal, having strayed from our heavenly Father only to be welcomed back with open arms. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus continues, introducing us to the older brother – a character often overlooked but crucial to understanding the full message.
The older brother, hearing the festivities, becomes angry. He refuses to join the celebration, bitter that his wayward sibling is being honored while his own faithful service seems overlooked. His father pleads with him to come in, but he remains outside, seething with resentment.
This part of the story confronts us with an uncomfortable question: What do we do when God isn't fair? It's easy to appreciate God's grace when we're the ones benefiting from it. But how do we respond when that same grace is extended to those we deem unworthy?
The older brother's reaction mirrors our own struggles with jealousy and criticism. We may find ourselves railing against God's generosity to others, questioning why those who've made poor choices seem to receive blessings while our faithful service goes unnoticed. It's a sobering reminder that sometimes, we can look less like Christ and more like the resentful older brother – known more for what we're against than who we're for.
This parable challenges us to examine our hearts. Are we producing the fruit of kindness and goodness that the Spirit desires, or are we cultivating jealousy and criticism? The call to kindness isn't just about being nice; it's about extending grace when it's undeserved, mirroring the heart of our heavenly Father.
Imagine the impact we could have if we truly lived with kindness and goodness. It's more than just making the world a happier place; it's about helping people discover the God they've been looking for. Consider the story of Wayne, a man who had abandoned his faith and cursed the very idea of God for years. As he battled cancer, members of a local church began showing up – cleaning his house, mowing his lawn, expecting nothing in return. Their simple acts of kindness became a tangible representation of Jesus in Wayne's life, ultimately leading to his reconciliation with God.
This transformation didn't stop with Wayne. In his final months, he shared his newfound faith with friends he had partied with for years, impacting their lives in turn. It's a powerful testament to the ripple effect of kindness and goodness.
As we reflect on these stories and teachings, let's challenge ourselves to cultivate true kindness – the kind that counts when it's difficult, when it's undeserved, when it goes against our sense of fairness. Let's strive to be known not for our judgment or indignation, but for our reflection of God's boundless love and grace.
The journey of faith isn't always easy. We'll face challenges, both internal and external. But as we yield to the Spirit's work in our lives, producing the fruit of kindness and goodness, we have the opportunity to not only transform our own hearts but to be catalysts for change in the lives of those around us.
So, let's embrace the journey, challenges and all. Let's choose kindness when it's hard, extend goodness when it seems undeserved. In doing so, we may just find that we're not only drawing closer to God ourselves but also helping others discover the God they never knew they were looking for.
The path of faith isn't always smooth. We often find ourselves trudging along, facing the same challenges we did before our conversion. It's easy to give up on the destination when we feel defeated by the journey. But perhaps our expectations need adjusting. The call to "take up your cross and follow me" isn't exactly a statement that delivers a lot of hype, is it? Yet it's at the core of what it means to walk with God.
Interestingly, loving God isn't usually the hardest part of our spiritual walk. It's the second great commandment that often trips us up: loving our neighbor as ourselves. People, with all their complexities and imperfections, present the real challenge. While God's plans are always good, people's plans can be selfish, misguided, and difficult to deal with. It's in our interactions with others that we often revert to old patterns, struggling to manifest the fruit of the Spirit we so desire.
Consider the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus tells of a young man who demands his inheritance early, essentially wishing his father dead. He squanders his wealth on wild living, only to find himself destitute and desperate. In a moment of clarity, he decides to return home, hoping to be taken on as a mere servant. But his father, seeing him from afar, runs to embrace him, restoring him fully as a son and throwing a celebration in his honor.
It's a beautiful picture of God's love and forgiveness. Many of us can relate to the prodigal, having strayed from our heavenly Father only to be welcomed back with open arms. But the story doesn't end there. Jesus continues, introducing us to the older brother – a character often overlooked but crucial to understanding the full message.
The older brother, hearing the festivities, becomes angry. He refuses to join the celebration, bitter that his wayward sibling is being honored while his own faithful service seems overlooked. His father pleads with him to come in, but he remains outside, seething with resentment.
This part of the story confronts us with an uncomfortable question: What do we do when God isn't fair? It's easy to appreciate God's grace when we're the ones benefiting from it. But how do we respond when that same grace is extended to those we deem unworthy?
The older brother's reaction mirrors our own struggles with jealousy and criticism. We may find ourselves railing against God's generosity to others, questioning why those who've made poor choices seem to receive blessings while our faithful service goes unnoticed. It's a sobering reminder that sometimes, we can look less like Christ and more like the resentful older brother – known more for what we're against than who we're for.
This parable challenges us to examine our hearts. Are we producing the fruit of kindness and goodness that the Spirit desires, or are we cultivating jealousy and criticism? The call to kindness isn't just about being nice; it's about extending grace when it's undeserved, mirroring the heart of our heavenly Father.
Imagine the impact we could have if we truly lived with kindness and goodness. It's more than just making the world a happier place; it's about helping people discover the God they've been looking for. Consider the story of Wayne, a man who had abandoned his faith and cursed the very idea of God for years. As he battled cancer, members of a local church began showing up – cleaning his house, mowing his lawn, expecting nothing in return. Their simple acts of kindness became a tangible representation of Jesus in Wayne's life, ultimately leading to his reconciliation with God.
This transformation didn't stop with Wayne. In his final months, he shared his newfound faith with friends he had partied with for years, impacting their lives in turn. It's a powerful testament to the ripple effect of kindness and goodness.
As we reflect on these stories and teachings, let's challenge ourselves to cultivate true kindness – the kind that counts when it's difficult, when it's undeserved, when it goes against our sense of fairness. Let's strive to be known not for our judgment or indignation, but for our reflection of God's boundless love and grace.
The journey of faith isn't always easy. We'll face challenges, both internal and external. But as we yield to the Spirit's work in our lives, producing the fruit of kindness and goodness, we have the opportunity to not only transform our own hearts but to be catalysts for change in the lives of those around us.
So, let's embrace the journey, challenges and all. Let's choose kindness when it's hard, extend goodness when it seems undeserved. In doing so, we may just find that we're not only drawing closer to God ourselves but also helping others discover the God they never knew they were looking for.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
February
Categories
no categories
No Comments