Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
For the month of June my Fruit of the Spirit topic is Kindness. And for some reason, so far, this has been the hardest Gift of the Spirit to write about. Maybe it’s because it’s the only fruit that we can actually do without the Spirit. Or is it?
As I struggle to finish the prayer blog on Kindness, I come across this verse in my devotions this July morning.
“Do you really think — anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same — that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”
I have never looked at Kindness like this before. The words that prick my soul are; “Gods kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” how does this happen?
From what my little brain can understand, from reading the scripture before and after these verses, I’m thinking we humans can be kind when it’s easy. But being kind when it’s hard, like God is. Well, it makes us mad. It seems unfair and unjust to us. How can we be kind to the most unkind person in the world?
“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
To be honest, I feel it’s easier to be kind to those who are kind to me. And unless I’m just getting too old to remember correctly, people use to be kinder than they are today.
Where has the kindness gone? We turn on our radios and TVs and we see the opposite of kindness. We read our social media posts and the kindness is totally gone. In stores, at restaurants, on the roadways, neighbors, even over the phone kindness is lost. Again, I ask where has all the kindness gone?
We taught our children to be kind. What happened to kindness? When did kindness become a rare quality?
“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,”
I feel that in this generation where kindness is a rarity, it makes people angrier when our Heavenly Father is kind to the unkind.
I remember one of my previous boss’s told me that you really get to know a person when you mess with their pocket book. Most of my career I’ve worked with accounting, payroll, receivables and payable’s. Basically peoples money. Even though it’s numbers on paper, it affects people’s pocket books. And he was right. Money seems to bring out the worst in people. Mess with a persons money and the once very kind person becomes the most unkind person anybody wants to meet.
But the Holy Spirits kindness withstands everything!
Yes there are still kind people, some more so than others. However, the kindness that comes from the Holy Spirit is far more real and authentic.
Exactly what is kindness? Kindness encompasses many things. A simple smile, opening up your home to a family who’s been displaced from theirs, or giving one of your kidneys to a stranger. And everything in between. Kindness is reaching out to help others, even the most unkind person in the world with a smile in your heart and soul.
We can all be kind, and we should be. The Spiritual Gift of Kindness however, supersedes any kindness we humans can imagine. Have you experience or seen a supernatural kindness?
Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with Gods kindness.
A kindness beyond our understanding!
Real genuine Kindness. Letting go, letting the Holy Spirit Fill Us. Let’s let go and let the Holy Spirit flow Genuine Kindness through us. Don’t try, don’t force, don’t pretend, just let.