Grace in Galatians (Part 147): Stop Being Nice. Start Being Kind. (There’s a Big Difference)

https://youtu.be/oa3BAzNASQE?si=FKiIdl8QTamvhrd6

Today, we continue our focus on THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY, as we learn to maintain our posture of faith after God has revealed His plans for our future.

As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians.

Key scriptures for this year:

2 Peter 3:18 GNT“But continue to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now and forever.”

Luke 10:20 Mirror“It’s time for you to rediscover who you are from Heaven’s perspective.”

1 John 3:10 Mirror“There is a very visible and vast difference between living one’s life from your God identity or from a fallen man’s mindset.”

Proverbs 25:2 NKJV“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Scripture we will study today:

Galatians 5:22 TPT“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: …kindness in action…”

Supporting scriptures:

Ephesians 4:32 ERV“Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.”

Romans 2:4 TPT“Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?”

Titus 3:4-5 TPT“But then something happened! God our Savior and his overpowering love and kindness for humankind appeared. He saved us, not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of his extravagant mercy.”

Proverbs 11:17 NKJV“The merciful man does good for his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.”

Setting the Stage:

We’ve looked at joy that overflows, peace that subdues, and patience that endures. Today, we come to the fourth expression of divine love: kindness in action. Most people think they’re being kind when they’re really just being nice. There’s a difference. Niceness is social. It’s surface-level. It’s the polite smile, the polished response, the carefully managed impression. Niceness keeps the peace. Kindness, on the other hand, costs you something. Kindness sees a need and moves toward it. Kindness is love with its work boots on. You can be nice and never truly touch anyone’s life. But you cannot be genuinely kind without leaving a mark.

So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.

1. Kindness Is Love in Action, Not Just Love in Theory.

The Passion Translation calls it “kindness in action” for a reason. Biblical kindness is not a sentiment; it is a behavior. It’s not enough to feel kind toward someone; you must do something about it. God didn’t just feel kind toward you when you were lost; He sent His Son. His kindness was active, tangible, and sacrificial. The Holy Spirit produces that same active kindness in you.

How this applies to you:

— Here is what it comes down to: Kindness in theory helps no one. Kindness in action changes lives.

— The Holy Spirit will show you specific people to bless and specific ways to serve them. Your job is to obey the prompting and DO whatever He leads you to do.

— Let me give you a real-life example. During our last trip to the Dominican Republic, Isabella and I visited a girls’ home. This home provides shelter and support to girls whose own families didn’t want them. What makes it even more heartbreaking is that in many cases, the families aren’t far away. They simply chose not to help. The home is giving these girls safety, education, counseling, and community, but the home itself was in need.

While we were there, we said kind words, we took pictures, and we prayed with them. But if we had stopped there, we would have only been nice. The Holy Spirit prompted us to do more, so we did. Our ministry purchased new kitchen appliances, a new toilet, and covered several plumbing repairs that were long overdue. On this current trip, we’re going back to see those girls again and to see what a difference those acts of service have made. That’s the distinction I’m talking about. Nice says the right things and moves on. Kindness hears the prompting of the Holy Spirit and does something about it.

— God’s kindness toward you was extravagant; let your kindness toward others be extravagant too.

— Don’t wait for someone to earn your kindness. God didn’t wait for you to earn His; He gave it freely.

— Kindness in action might look like a text of encouragement, a phone call ‘out of the blue’ when the Holy Spirit prompts you to call, or a myriad of other things. It’s not about spending money. It’s about doing whatever the Holy Spirit prompts you to do for someone. Don’t just smile. Obey the Holy Spirit.

— A person flowing in divine kindness is a person who makes every room they enter better than they found it. They build people up every day.

2. God’s Kindness Led You to Repentance, and Your Kindness Can Lead Others to God.

Romans 2:4 is one of the most powerful verses in the Bible. It says that God’s kindness leads people to repentance. Not His anger. Not His threats. His KINDNESS. Think about that. The same kindness that brought you to God is now flowing through you by the Holy Spirit. Your kindness has the potential to draw people to Christ. Some people will never walk into a church, but they will walk past YOU. Let your kindness be the sermon they need.

How this applies to you:

— Your kindness might be the only encounter with God that someone experiences today.

— People who are far from God are not argued into the Kingdom; they are loved into it.

— God’s kindness melted your heart; let God’s kindness through you melt someone else’s.

— In a world that is increasingly harsh and divided, a single act of kindness can be a prophetic declaration of God’s love.

— You are God’s representative in your neighborhood, your office, and your city. Let your kindness accurately represent Him.

— When the Church is unkind, we don’t draw people to God; we push them away. This is why we have to be intentional. The world is watching how we treat people, and unkindness in the name of religion has done more damage to the cause of Christ than most of us realize.

— Don’t reserve your kindness for those who are kind to you. Even the world could do that. God was kind to you when you were His enemy.

— In THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY, discover that your kindness is not a personality trait; it’s a ministry tool empowered by the Holy Spirit.

3. Kindness Is One-Sided; It Does Not Require Reciprocity.

One of the most challenging aspects of divine kindness is that it doesn’t require anything in return. God was kind to you without expecting you to pay Him back. He was kind to you when you were undeserving, ungrateful, and unaware. The Holy Spirit produces that same unconditional kindness in you. You don’t base your kindness on whether someone deserves it. You give kindness because it’s your nature in Christ, not because they’ve earned it.

How this applies to you:

— Divine kindness is completely one-sided. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, he will lead you to give without expecting anything back.

— If your kindness depends on reciprocity, it’s not kindness; it’s a transaction.

— God was kind to you at your worst. Let that reality fuel your kindness toward others at their worst.

— In business, this means treating the janitor with the same kindness you show the CEO. Divine kindness doesn’t discriminate based on title.

— Here’s a major point: You will encounter people who respond to your kindness with hostility. Your kindness will irritate them because it will cause them to consider their own ways, but no matter how upset people get with you, be kind anyway. Your kindness is about your nature, not their response.

— The Holy Spirit empowers you to be kind to people who don’t deserve it. That’s not weakness; that’s grace in action.

— I will give you a personal example without getting into specifics. There are people in Isabella’s family who have treated her poorly, yet she continues to show them kindness. Some of her family members question why she does it and urge her to stop. But when the Holy Spirit prompts you to be a blessing to someone, you don’t get to pick and choose based on how they’ve treated you. You obey the prompting. That is kindness and grace in action.

— Your one-sided kindness is a reflection of the gospel itself: God gave His best to those who deserved His worst.

4. Kindness Is Love Reaching Out to Those Who Need It Most.

Kindness is what love looks like when it reaches out. It sees a need and moves toward it. It sees pain and offers comfort. It sees isolation and offers connection. The Holy Spirit will make you aware of people around you who need a kind word, a helping hand, or simply someone who cares. Don’t ignore those promptings. They are divine appointments disguised as ordinary moments.

How this applies to you:

— The Holy Spirit will highlight people in your path who need your kindness. Pay attention to the promptings.

— Sometimes the greatest act of kindness is simply being present with someone who is hurting.

— Kindness doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. A kind word at the right time can change someone’s entire trajectory.

— In THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY, discover that God has placed you in specific environments to be His hands and feet of kindness.

— Your acts of kindness create a ripple effect that goes far beyond what you can see or measure.

— John said you cannot claim to love a God you can’t see while ignoring the people you can see. Kindness proves your love is real.

— As you walk in divine kindness, you become a conduit of God’s love and light in this world.

That’s enough for today.

Declaration of Faith:

Father, I thank You for producing kindness in action through me by the power of Your Holy Spirit!

I declare that my kindness is not passive; it is active, intentional, and empowered by Your Spirit!

Your kindness led me to You, and now my kindness will lead others to You!

I am kind without requiring reciprocity because that’s how You were kind to me!

Every environment I enter is better because I was there, because Your love flows through me in action!

I see divine appointments in ordinary moments, and I respond with Holy Spirit-empowered kindness!

My kindness is not a personality trait; it is a ministry tool that You use to change lives!

I am discovering new dimensions of kindness in THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY!

I am living from the inside out, and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!

I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!