Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
In this post we continue our exploration of the Fruit of the Spirit. Reflecting on the Fruit of the Spirit, particularly kindness, allows us to delve into how this attribute reflects God’s character and how it’s manifested in our lives as believers. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 lists the Fruit of the Spirit, which includes kindness, as evidence of the Spirit at work within us.
As an attribute of the Fruit of the Spirit, kindness is a virtue that goes far beyond merely being nice. Kindness is an active expression of love towards God and others. Kindness is marked by being considerate, helpful, and generous.
We are kind, not because we expect anything in return, but because we want to reflect the heart of God. Kindness springs forth from a spirit that has been transformed by Christ. When you experience someone’s kindness, you are encountering a visible sign of God’s work in their life.
When we demonstrate kindness, we are taking an active part in the divine nature, echoing the kindness of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who exemplified this virtue throughout His life on earth. Jesus’ penultimate act of kindness was laying down His life for us. In his demonstration of kindness, Jesus offers us salvation and reconciliation to God. As the recipients of this incredible act of kindness, we are called to extend it to others as a joyful overflow of the love we have received through Jesus Christ.
What are some practical ways you can exhibit kindness today?
Even the simplest act of kindness can serve as a powerful testimony to the love of Jesus we have experienced in our lives.
As you go about your day, keep your heart and eyes open to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that you can bless someone with an act of kindness.
Know you are loved. As a result, be kind.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
Biography: Rainer Bantau is a husband, mentor, and storyteller whose passion is helping people draw closer to Jesus. After rededicating his life to Christ in 2007, he has shared God’s Word in churches across Texas and walked alongside others as a trusted guide in their faith journeys. A visual artist, Rainer’s work has been shown throughout the state, often reflecting themes of hope, redemption, and the beauty of God’s creation. Rainer also writes The Devotional Guy™ blog, where he encourages readers to hold fast to their faith through life’s joys and struggles. He and his wife, Terri, make their home in Richardson, Texas, where they live next door to her parents and enjoy the company of a lively menagerie of pets. Grateful for God’s grace, Rainer seeks to live each day in a way that leaves a legacy of faith for future generations.
https://thedevotionalguy.blog/
Image by DEEPAI
Love it, kindness is synonymous with goodness and a foundational Christian practice that reflects divine love. True kindness is the enterprise of brotherly love, which should be expressed through prayer, patience, and good deeds. Expressing kindness is not a passive sentiment but an active, spiritual endeavor that involves changing one’s thinking to be more loving, understanding, and compassionate toward others.
“The poor are not always with us as objects of pity, but as objects of love. Christ Himself is hidden in them. What we do for them, we do for Him.”
Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Your Friend – His servant,
Isaac Otieno