Keep in Step with the Spirit 6
In this series on keeping in step with the Spirit by bearing the fruit of the spirit, we have come to the fruit of kindness.
Galatians 5:22-23 [NIV] 22 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
It might be good at this point to remind ourselves that our goal is to become more like Jesus – more like the Father [See John 15:9, 12 and Matthew 5:48]. So, the good news for us is that God is or exhibits the things that we are asked to also exhibit in our lives.
Romans 11:22 [NIV] Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness… God is kind.
Ephesian 2:7 [NIV] in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Many other scriptures using the word kindness are about the kindness that God has shown to us.
2 Peter 1:5-7 [KJV] shows us that kindness is something that is built upon other godly characteristics and Christian practices, like faith and knowledge and patience. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
On of my favorite scripture about kindness is Colossians 3:12 [NIV] Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Romans 11:22 [NIV] Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness…
Kindness is something for us to clothe ourselves in, along with compassion, humility, gentleness and patience. Again, the scripture seems to indicate that kindness does not stand alone. To me, this indicates that without qualities like humility, compassion, and patience make it easier for us to show or maybe are required for us to show kindness to others. Humility, compassion, and patience are things you have. Kindness is something you show. It seems to me that it is logical and accurate to say that our ability to show kindness is dependent on being humble (knowing that we also sin and stumble), being compassionate (knowing that others struggle too), and being patient (with the struggles and faults of others – just as we hope others will be with our own).
This reminds me of a couple of sayings I learned from two of my favorite authors – sayings which help me to stay humble, compassionate, patient, and kind. Brene Brown taught me that “Everyone is just doing the best they can with the baggage they carry and the day they are having”. MK Mueller taught me that “we are all half jerk and half jewel”.
We are all fighting to become better versions of ourselves. Our God is kind to us in our struggles because He knows our frailty. [See Psalm 103:13-14]
It makes sense that He’d ask us to keep in step with the Holy Spirit by showing kindness to those who struggle along with us.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org