Is there someone in your life right now who isn’t being very nice to you? Maybe a kid at school who says mean things, leaves you out on purpose, or tries to make you feel bad about yourself. When someone treats you that way, what’s the first thing you want to do? If we’re being honest, most of us want to get even. Or at least make sure they know exactly how much they hurt us!

But God says to do something completely different—and it’s a total surprise move! God says to treat your enemies with kindness. He tells us to be generous to people who are unkind to you.

Why would God say that?! Because kindness is powerful! When you do something unexpectedly nice for someone who has been mean to you, it can completely stop them in their tracks. It’s hard to keep being mean to someone who keeps treating you with kindness. Even if it doesn’t change them right away, it will definitely change you. You will become more and more like Jesus every time you choose love over revenge.

And Jesus didn’t just teach this, He lived it. Even while people were hurting Him, He showed them grace. “Love your enemies,” He said. “Bless those who curse you.” That is one of the hardest things in the world to do, but it is also one of the most powerful, most Christlike things you could ever do!

Think About It: Think of someone who has been unkind to you. What is one small, kind, unexpected thing you could do for them this week? Ask God to give you the heart and the courage to actually do it—and then watch what happens!