Fruit of the Spirit — Kindness

Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. He says they are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

Exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit may seem like a tall order but be encouraged! We can only genuinely demonstrate these characteristics through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So, it’s not something we can do alone, but rather it’s part of our transformation (sanctification) through our relationship with Jesus! How cool is that?

So, what does kindness look like, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23? We all know what it feels like when someone is kind to us—they are compassionate, loving, and gentle, and this usually is extended to us in times when we may feel like we don’t deserve it. That sounds a lot like what Jesus does for us! 

Our Father shows kindness to us through our one-time for all-time salvation in Jesus Christ! We do not have to earn our way to God because if we did, we would fall short every single time (Romans 3:23), and that is why God sent Jesus to serve as a sacrifice on our behalf. God’s kindness and generosity allow us to be in community with Him! 

So how do we exhibit this fruit of the Spirit in our lives? First, we can ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts to respond with kindness when we may not naturally want to be kind. Putting the needs of others above our own is a way to show kindness to others. This doesn’t mean we let people walk all over us, use, or abuse us, but rather our response is gentle and kind. 

Take time to reflect on the kindness of God and ask The Spirit to help you respond in the same way to others – especially when it feels like they don’t deserve it!

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32 NLT)