The fifth thing that is noted in the Fruits of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit brings into our lives is the ability to show kindness.
Yes, people can show kindness even if they aren’t Christian. However, I believe there is a vast difference between worldly kindness compared to the kindness that God brings in our lives.
By God showing His characteristic of kindness, we can receive salvation as a whole (Romans 2:4). God shows that He is kind again by giving us rest for our souls through green pastures or a quiet streams (Psalm 23:2-3). God also expressed kindness when He raised the widow’s only son through Elijah’s prayer (1 Kings 17:8-24). He even showed kindness to Hagar, who was exiled by Sarah through water and giving her hope for her son, Ishmael (Genesis 21:9-21) – therefore, God isn’t just kind in nature, but also in the things He does
Just like us, kindness cannot merely be about gentleness or tenderness with others, but more that we need to show kindness through our acts to others.
When we show others the love of God through our kind words or the things we do for them, there is an outpouring of grace that allows them to see Him, not us. Now, to do this with people we love is hard enough at the best of times, but to do it for those who dislike or persecute us, is why genuine Godly kindness can only come through the Holy Spirit walking with us everyday.
“In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.”
2 Corinthians 6:4-6
Categories: Fruits of the Spirit
