Kindness is a fruit of the spirit which is such an attractive quality to possess. Can you imagine our world if we all were to exercise kindness towards each other? A world where we are intentional in being friendly, generous, and compassionate towards each other?
When we are kind, we show the love of Christ to those around us, and we reflect the character of God. We cannot show love however, unless we demonstrate kindness towards each other because “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. -1 Corinthians 13:4.
In the Bible, we see many examples of kindness. One of the most well-known stories is that of the Good Samaritan. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus tells the story of a man who was beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road.
Two religious leaders passed by, but it was a Samaritan, someone who was despised by the Jews, who showed kindness to the wounded man. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, took him to an inn, and paid for his care. This story shows us that kindness knows no boundaries and that we should love our neighbor as ourselves, regardless of their race, religion, or social status.
As believers in Christ, we are called to be kind to everyone, not just those who are like us. I know it’s not always easy to be kind to people who are unkind to us but when we rely on God’s strength, He will cultivate this fruit of kindness in our hearts. Ephesians 4:32 says we are to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
God, in His love continues to demonstrate His kindness towards us each day by providing for our daily needs. He protects us from harm and danger. This is not achieved on our own merit but because of God’s unconditional love towards us. Let us choose to be God’s ambassadors of kindness and saturate our world with kindness towards each other. “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:” -Philippians 2:5.
Choose to practice acts of kindness each day.
Kindness has the power to soften hearts, heal wounds, and bring people together. It has the power to change lives and impact the world around us. Let us strive to reflect this fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we show kindness to others, we are planting seeds that will germinate and bear fruit, not just for our generation but generations to come.
