Unreasonable Kindness

“‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Rom. 12:20-21)

Recently, my teenage daughter Anna related a story to me that brought me joy. I immediately knew I wanted to share it with you.

The first part of the telling is less than pleasant. She was in a bathroom and inadvertently overheard two girls speaking negatively about her. They did not realize that she was there… that is, until she stepped out of the corner she was in. At that point, they realized that she had heard what they said. They lapsed into a disrespectful silence, rolling their eyes.

One would hope that this would have happened in a secular context. Unfortunately, it took place instead at a church gathering. As it just so happens, Anna was put into a group with one of these two girls during the discipleship program, right after the bathroom incident. For purposes of this story, we will call that young woman Nely.

Each person in the discipleship class received an assignment. They were paired with one other individual in the group. Next, they were to ask God for an encouraging word to speak to that person. The idea was to practice leaning into Holy Spirit and listening for His voice to minister to others. I bet you are not surprised to learn that Anna was assigned to Nery, that very same girl that had spoken meanly about her in the bathroom.

My sweet girl has grown so much. She embraced the assignment wholeheartedly. She asked Jesus to share His heart for Nery with her. He did! When Anna leaned in to listen, she heard the word “clean” in her spirit for her. So when Anna’s turn came, she gently said to Nery, “No matter what you have done, or what has been done to you, God wants you to know that you are clean.” Nery immediately burst into tears. It was exactly what she has been needing to hear, and it ministered deeply to her heart.

Anna continued to minister to Nery. In turn, Nery ended up asking her for forgiveness for the unkind words she spoke in the bathroom. What the enemy had intended for harm, Jesus turned around for growth and healing in two beloved daughters’ lives that day! As I pause to remember Anna’s peaceful face, recounting this incident, I am in awe of the power of God’s unmerited love. Truly, it is His kindness that leads us to repentance. (Rom. 2:4).

I would invite you to pause and reflect with me for a moment. Has anyone been catty or stinging to you with their words recently? I can personally share that it has happened to me, too, more than once within the last two weeks. My friend, is it possible that Holy Spirit may be inviting you and me into an opportunity to advance the Kingdom through unreasonable kindness?

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 But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your coat also. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject^[ the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matt. 5:39-42).

What are your thoughts on these instructions? Did Jesus mean them literally?