The fifth fruit of the Spirit is that of kindness. Again, because kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit living with us, we need to look at God’s kindness to us which is the description of what we should understand by kindness. 

Again, the place to go is the Gospels because it is there, in the person of Jesus, that we see what kindness looked like. Think with me about how Jesus interacted with people. He was deeply compassionate about their circumstances and brokenness. He spoke with gentleness and respect. He gave honor to those who society didn’t honor. 

In fact, this is what he said about himself in Matthew 11:29-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” These are words of kindness. He describes himself as gentle and humble in heart with an easy and light yoke. 

I am often challenged by the contrast of the life and example of Jesus and the harshness that Christians can show to one another. Preaching against certain sins can be harsh. Spirits toward one another can be critical. Judgements made about other believers can be cutting. Lack of forgiveness and holding onto grudges is commonplace. Hard words in the name of truth show up all over on social media - directed at other believers. And we can find ways to justify all of these. 

Except… they are not the fruit that comes from God. From Jesus. Because that spirit is a spirit of kindness, gentleness, respect, compassion  and humility. This is not our natural tendency, especially toward people we don’t like or agree with. None of the fruits of the spirit are natural tendencies. They are the direct result of God living within us, and our exposure to Him gives us the motivation and the power to relate to one another as He relates to us. The fruit of the Spirit is simply us mirroring to others how God relates to us. It is us passing Him along to those around us.

Ask Jesus to nudge you whenever you are tempted to respond unkindly, think about someone unkindly, or be harsh or hard in any way. If you ask, He will. And then, choose the way of Jesus, rather than the spirit of our world. Pass on the kindness that God gives to you every day and you will be amazed at how people respond. And please, let's not join the unkindness of our day in relating to those we don’t agree with. Our world and our fellow believers would not be so divided if we specialized in kindness. Ask Jesus to help you be kind, especially when you are tempted to be harsh.

Father, thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness toward me. Thank you for your gentle and humble spirit. I pray that you would give that spirit to me to pass on to others. Amen.