“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal.5:22-23a NKJV)

Kindness, perhaps more so today than ever, is in short supply. We see a lack of compassion exhibited in the political arena, by fans in sporting events, for the homeless and needy, in our public schools, where bullying is still a significant problem. I’m afraid that the prince of evil has convinced us over time that the simple act of offering a kind word or taking the hand of someone and helping them to their feet has become antiquated and outdated. As husbands and wives, we are at times very unkind to each other. As fathers and mothers, we do not always show kindness to our children. Often we do not even know our neighbors living next to us, so we do not seek the opportunity to be kind.

Listen, I’m not writing this for your benefit as much as I am for me; I’m guilty!

Our kindness is not an act to be seen by many; it is a mindset, a desire that every day we hold on tight to the attitude of “I WILL BE KIND TO EVERYONE I COME IN CONTACT WITH!”

Wait a minute, you mean I should be kind to the individual that cheats me? The individual that ridicules and gossips about me? What about that individual who intends to harm my family or me? What about the co-worker who is too lazy and poorly motivated? The cashier that takes out their frustration of dealing with other unkind people on you? How about the husband or wife that got up on the wrong side of the bed and is bent on making your day miserable? Or maybe the strong-willed child that tries your patience and kindness as if it is their vocation in life?

Well, my dear friends; What would Jesus do? If we intend to call ourselves Christians and walk as Christ walked, then we better ask ourselves that question in all things about our actions. Understand that the “fruit of the Spirit” is a natural quality of our Savior and the Father.

Micah 6:8 provides this for our instruction: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

Or this from Zechariah 9:7: “Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;.”

Since it is such an essential and distinctive quality of God, the prophets taught that it should also characterize His people. It is part of the Divine requirement for each of us “to love kindness.” Jesus teaches us on kindness with passages such as this one from Matthew chapter ten: “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mat.10:42)

Then, we are, like a moth drawn to the light, brought to the ultimate instruction on this beautiful fruit.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; (Mat.5:43-45a NASB)

Wait, this is talking about loving your enemy, not being kind to them. Isn’t that two different thoughts and actions? When you look closely at the fruit of the Spirit, you see that “love” is the trunk, the root of this beautiful tree; “kindness” is one of the branches, one of the fruit that the tree of love produces. If we profess to be a Christian, that is, taking on the likeness of Christ and conforming to his will, then not only will we love, we will produce fruit of the magnificent tree. Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Our focus, our daily life of living before the King of kings, is to imitate Him, embrace His attitudes, and “holy” follow Him! Kindness is but one way we can reach humanity. It always begins with a spark, and if the winds of love blow strong, then it becomes an inferno consuming all that come in contact with the source, Jesus, the Blood of the Lamb, the Redeemer, the Great Physician!