“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22-23
Often when we discuss the Fruits of the Spirit, we do not speak enough about kindness. Kindness is an important characteristic of Jesus’s nature. Titus 3:4-5 tells us that in His kindness, love and mercy, Jesus saved, washed, regenerated, and renewed us by the Holy Spirit. The psalmist declared in Psalm 63:3 that God’s loving kindness was better than life. This was all the reason he needed to praise the Lord. What does the fruit of kindness look like in our lives?
Kindness is defined as being good-natured, warm-hearted, considerate and generous. When we are connected to the true vine which is Jesus Christ, kindness helps abate our sinful inclinations and turns us toward good. God’s kindness removes our cold stony heart and gives us a warm heart of flesh. As we progress forward with this divine attribute and a pliable heart of flesh, our thoughts and actions are no longer self-centered. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God cause us to consider others’ needs even before our own. We are not to be a stingy people, but generous! Why is this so important?
C. H. Spurgeon gave a message from the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit in the year 1873 saying, “No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me.” Will you take time to pray or go out of your way for someone else? Christ at work in us thinks past ourselves, our ambitions, desires and our needs to intercede for another. Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, that what we do to the least: the hungry, the sick, the thirsty, the stranger, and/or the naked, we essentially do unto Him.
John Wesley summates in a 1915 letter: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can (John Wesley(1915) “Rule of Conduct’ in ‘Letters’).
Let’s Pray!
Dear Heavenly Father, I consciously choose to abide every day in Jesus Christ, the True Vine. I repent of every unkind word, thought and deed that did not bring You glory in my life. I ask You to purge me of impurities so that the world can enjoy the fruit of kindness in my life. Thank you Dear Jesus for your redeeming and unfailing love! I yield to you Holy Spirit. Let your kindness in me wash, regenerate and renew others in the name of Jesus Christ,
AMEN!!!