“But the fruit of the Spirit is…kindness” These nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives sometimes overlap each other, all being interlocked like the links of a chain each lengthening it and being part of the whole. This fruit of kindness, which is translated as gentleness in the King James Version of the Bible, points to moral excellence in our demeanor and character as we deal with other people, producing kindness, gentleness, sweetness, benevolence, and affability. Wow, how opposite of “the works of the flesh” which include such things as “hatred, contentions…outbursts of wrath, and selfish ambitions” Galatians 5:19. Two sentences from the Spirit Filled Life Bible sum up this fruit beautifully, and I quote, “The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience. (&) The Holy Spirit removes the abrasive qualities from the character of the one under His control.” Ephesians 4:32 tells us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” That is to be well compassioned and sympathetic, granting gratuitous favor, kindness, and pardon. Romans 13:14 says “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”, and if we “have put on Christ” Galatians 3:27, then we ought to live like Him, and He tells us that God is kind even “to the unthankful and evil” Luke 6:35. “Love suffers long and is kind” 1 Corinthians 13:4. And Colossians 3:12 tells us to “Put on tender mercies, kindness…” Then Peter says “…add to your faith…brotherly kindness…” 2 Peter 3:5-7. May we tend to our garden and begin producing this fruit of the Spirit today!
Kindness
By Rose Hill
Mercies so tender we will put on,
And love the one who does us wrong.
A forgiving spirit in us you’ll find,
And to everyone we will be kind.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.