God Is With UsNäide

God’s Kindness Brings Us Home

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us. -Titus 3:4–5

After decades of fighting, Colombia’s military tried a new approach to get guerilla groups to surrender—a Christmas campaign.

It involved decorating trees near the insurgents’ jungle base with lights triggered by motion sensors. When a rebel approached, the Christmas tree lit up and a message read, “If Christmas can come to the jungle, you too can come home. Demobilize. At Christmas, everything is possible.”

More than 330 rebels demobilized.

The following year, friends and relatives wrote Christmas letters to the rebels, asking them to come home, which were placed in thousands of beautiful glowing balls and floated down the jungle’s rivers.

More rebels laid down their arms. For this group of guerillas, kindness helped them come home.

It reminds me of God’s ways with us.

For while we rebellious humans have long fought against Him (Titus 3:3), “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us,” Paul says, “because of his mercy” (vv. 4–5).

Although God’s judgment of us is warranted, He’s delaying it, waiting patiently for us to return (2 Peter 3:9). God’s kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

The God of the universe, who has heaven’s armies at His command, chooses to win us not with force, but kindness. Let’s lay down our weapons and come home.

Sheridan Voysey

How can you respond to God’s kindness today? Why is it vital for you to receive His peace and turn your life over to Him?

Father God, Your kindness to me is astonishing. Thank You for loving me back into relationship with You.