This morning, Pastor Thomas preached a message that landed deep in my spirit: Kindness is not the same as niceness. And maybe that’s something we all need to sit with a little longer.

Niceness is often a mask—polite smiles, agreeable nods, quiet avoidance of anything uncomfortable. It keeps the waters smooth and the optics clean. But kindness? Kindness has grit. Kindness is gentle and grounded. It is compassion with conviction, gentleness with a spine, and truth wrapped in mercy.

In our culture, niceness can be self-protective. We play it safe. We avoid offense. We nod when we want to speak up and smile when we want to cry. But biblical kindness doesn’t play safe. It doesn’t look away from suffering, ignore injustice, or shrink back from truth.

Kindness is how love puts on work boots.

It sees the need and moves toward it. It speaks truth—but not to win an argument or prove a point. It speaks truth because love refuses to leave someone in darkness. Kindness doesn’t flatter; it cares. It doesn’t just feel compassion; it shows compassion—through presence, support, and action.

Jesus was the embodiment of this kind of kindness. Think about how He treated people:

• The woman at the well—He named her shame without shaming her. He spoke truth, but with such tenderness that she ran to tell others about the Man who saw her and loved her (John 4).
• The woman caught in adultery—He stooped low, protected her from harm, and offered grace alongside an invitation to live differently (John 8).
• The leper—He didn’t just heal him. He touched him. He crossed the lines that society had drawn and made space for dignity (Matthew 8).

Over and over, Jesus showed us that kindness is the practical expression of God’s love. It is not passive. It is not performative. It’s fiercely present, honest, and merciful.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
— Galatians 5:22

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32

We often think of kindness as something soft. But in Scripture, kindness is powerful. It leads to transformation. Paul writes that “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Kindness changes us. It calls us home.

Real kindness doesn’t hide when someone is struggling. It doesn’t turn away from pain, even when the pain is messy or unfamiliar. It notices. It moves. It bends low to bind wounds, to make space, to speak words that heal.

And that means kindness often costs us something.

It may cost our comfort, our convenience, or our carefully curated boundaries. It may cost our image—because sometimes kindness looks like taking a stand when others want to stay silent. Or slowing down to offer presence when everyone else is rushing by.

But kindness isn’t rooted in people-pleasing. It’s rooted in love.

Love that sees.
Love that acts.
Love that does not give up.

Kindness is not optional for the follower of Christ. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit, evidence that the Spirit is alive in us. And in a world full of harshness, division, and hurry—our kindness can be a radical act of faith.

So today, let’s ask ourselves:
Where is God inviting me to trade niceness for kindness?
Who needs my presence, not just my politeness?
Where can I show up with compassion and clarity?

Let’s not just talk about love. Let’s let it take on flesh.

Kindness is love in motion.

So bring a meal. Speak a hard truth with tenderness. Write the note. Hold the hand. Make room for someone’s grief. Ask the deeper question. Listen without fixing. Say what needs to be said—but say it with mercy.

Because the world doesn’t need more agreeable Christians.
It needs kind ones—people who carry the heart of Jesus into every room they enter.