The Kindest

Namaste! I got back from India a little over a week ago, and there are millions of things I could say. I absolutely love India. If you’re ever thinking about going, just go. You won’t regret it! But as I was thinking about my trip and what was most significant, I realized something. I just traveled halfway around the world to be thoroughly convinced of this one thing: Jesus is the kindest person anyone will ever meet. He has the kindest face and the kindest eyes. He speaks the kindest words. These words sum up the revelation I received in India: “His eyes are dripping with love and His words are melting our hearts and His voice is unraveling and penetrating. All of creation just can’t look away” (Beautiful King by Laura Hackett). I am overwhelmed by His kindness. And I also got to watch as those who had never heard of Jesus became overwhelmed with His kindness too.

So, here is a story. One of the first days of the trip, I went out to share with Kate and Brandon. We ended up in this store, called Health and Glow. There were probably ten women working and not many customers, so it was the perfect opportunity to minister to people. We asked if anyone was sick, and two ladies said they were. Kate and I each prayed for one, and they both got healed of all their pain! That opened the door for us to share about Jesus. I was sharing with some other women, but as I joined Kate again, she asked if anyone wanted to see a vision of Jesus. A few of them said yes. We prayed and then asked what they saw. One woman held her hand right up to her nose and said, “He was right here!” Another one said she saw his face. The third woman said she saw angels and then she saw Jesus. She described what his hair looked like and his eyes. Then she said he had something on his head like a rope. She was motioning and struggling to explain it but we realized she was describing the crown of thorns! So we asked if it looked like thorns. She said yes, that was it! We then told her that Jesus wore a crown of thorns when he died. Kate explained that Jesus was showing her how much he loved her and that he died for her. She was definitely excited and overwhelmed. We shared the gospel again and a few of the women really considered saying yes to Jesus and having no other gods, but they weren’t sure yet. We went back the next day and talked with them again. Two of the women gave their lives to Jesus! Someone from our team got to go back again to disciple them, and they will continue to meet with one of our friends that lives there.

As I was watching this miraculous encounter unfold before my eyes, all I could think of was how kind Jesus is. These women had spent their whole lives bowing down before gods and making sacrifices and begging for answered prayers in temples. Yet, they had told us that they felt so far from God. But in the middle of a store, Jesus made himself known to them. They didn’t have to plead or bow down or make an offering, he just met with them. He healed their bodies. They experienced His tangible presence. He showed them His face. And for the first time in their lives, in one moment, God was near. His love awakened their hearts. His kindness won them over. And as I was standing there, He won me too. I fell in love with Him all over again.

There are many more things I could say about India (in fact, I’m sure I’ll blog about it again). But let me leave you with this. There is nothing better than living life from the overflow. As we sit at the feet of Jesus everyday and receive freely from the river of love and kindness pouring from his heart, we will be filled to overflowing. It is only in this place of overflow that we can truly love others as Jesus did.

Also, when you’re in India (or just in an Indian restaurant), eat the naan. It will change your world.