Beautiful Acts of Kindness

I love to wake up early with a cup of coffee and spend time dwelling in God’s Word. On this particular morning I was reading Mark 14, the story of the woman who lavishly anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume just a few days before His death. One translation described the scene as Jesus describing this gesture as a “beautiful act of kindness,” (Mk. 14:6).

While meditating on this Scripture my phone beeped and then beeped again. Bernie, the director of OceanView Care Center, was sending pictures of the “track uniforms” for the 60 new preschoolers and the teachers. Over the last several months a seamstress in the community received the appropriate measurements and sewed each uniform to size. Not only did each student and teacher receive a warm outfit for the upcoming South African winter, but also this local businesswoman was provided an income to provide for her family. The message from Bernie was full of thankfulness and joy!

As my thoughts returned to the scripture, this woman’s sacrificial and demonstrative act of love, and to Jesus’s description of a “beautiful act of kindness,” I thought to myself, “this is how Christ’s Kingdom spreads.” You see from 12,000 miles away leaders from Parker Task Force, a non-profit in Parker Colorado, was moved by their love for those living in a township and decided to give funds to Oceans Ministries to pay for the uniforms in order to bring joy and dignity to students and teachers.

“beautiful acts of kindness” always starts with a vision that is consumed with the glory of Jesus. The passage tell us on that day when the woman anointed Jesus’ feet many others were present in the home of Simon, including former lepers and all of the disciples. And yet, it seems that the unnamed woman was the only one who understood the glorious act of love that Jesus was about to endure on the cross.

This woman encountered a supernatural love from Heaven in Jesus, a love that was full of forgiveness and pure acceptance. Through the eyes of faith, she knew she was held forever in the arms of Jesus as a dearly loved daughter. That is why she could let go of a costly treasure, maybe her retirement fund, all because she found a love far more secure than any amount of money.

Over the years people just like this woman give costly gifts, “beautiful acts of kindness,” because they have been overwhelmed by Christ love for them. At Oceans Ministries we continually shake our heads and feel so humbled by these acts of kindness. And we get to watch first hand the impact of these beautiful acts have in so many hearts and how it spreads Christ’s Kingdom into difficult and dark places.

Jesus sees it all, and He is honored by our “beautiful acts of kindness.” At the end of this story Jesus makes this bold statement:

“I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to Me will be mentioned in memory of her.” (vs. 9)

As I reread those words, I think how Jesus is highlighting to each one of us how His Kingdom and the Gospel spreads. When we love Jesus by loving others (see Mt. 25:31ff) it is a “beautiful acts of kindness.” This kindness than points others to our Beautiful Jesus who gave everything for us on the cross so that we might truly know a love that will never let us go.

Please join me in this prayer:

Jesus, during this holy season of lent and beyond may Your beautiful Act of kindness at the cross overwhelm me. May I experience Your perfect love, knowing it is Your love that moves me to love others with beautiful Acts of kindness, so that Your Kingdom will be known all over all the earth! Amen