Fruit of the Spirit – Kindness
Ephesians 4v30-5v2
Christianity is a wonderfully encouraging religion!
It assures us that God our Creator is not against us but very much for us. He doesn’t make things difficult but has done much to help us to succeed and enjoy blessing in life.
He famously gave His Son to be our Saviour, Jesus gave His life on the cross to deal with our sin. That means if we’re Christians we are saved! Redeemed! Our past is forgiven, our future is secure and in the present we are delivered from evil addictions and helped to freely choose good paths. God the Spirit lives in and among us to guide and strengthen us with divine, resurrection power!
Ah, but do we notice in the reading above how it is possible for us to ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit?
Well of course it is, the Lord the Spirit is a person who can feel welcomed by our obedience and willingness to serve. But equally the Spirit of the Lord in us can feel rejected and alienated if Christians choose to return to worldly ways such as bitterness, uncontrolled anger, greed, immorality or malicious slander. These are not things that honour our Lord. Why should He stay and continue to help us if we are determined to disobey the instructions of His Word?
So the Apostle urges his readers to consciously choose to follow and practise every day the ways of our Master Jesus, love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, holiness. As we submit to live our lives to honour Jesus, the Spirit remains within and produces the ‘fruit’ of Christlike character. This is one of them - kindness.
Now kindness is a popular thing in Western culture where it’s usually understood as being nice, tolerant, charitable. As usual, when we look at it Biblically we find that with Jesus it is so much deeper and richer for it is something that reflects the heart of God Himself. Let’s consider it under three headings.
Firstly kindness is Generosity to Everyone. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes the point that God, like a good Father, gives sun and rain to everyone, good or bad.
1st century eastern countries depended on farming so fair weather was crucial. Sun and rain in season provided their daily bread. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to acknowledge God as our kind Provider. Not everyone does this or even believes in God nevertheless He is happy to provide for everyone anyway because He is kind.
A good dad gladly works to feed his family and every child is welcome at the table. A child who has been naughty may forfeit dessert but no one will go to bed hungry for the Father generously provides for everyone.
Secondly kindness is Compassion to those in Need. This is one of the most attractive things we observe in Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels. He seemed to really care about people who were suffering and take delight in ministering to their need. He didn’t ‘pass by on the other side’. He healed and delivered countless people, fed whole crowds, preached good news to the poor.
The writers provide details of individual cases that show our Lord’s really beautiful way with people. We might call it His ‘bedside manner’ and it’s wonderful. He gets close and touches people, the leper, Peter’s mother in law, Jairus’ daughter. He affirms and encourages those who show faith, the centurion, the woman with the haemorrhage. He raises Lazarus from the dead but not before weeping with Mary and Martha in their loss. Jesus feels our pain!
And He teaches His followers to share His concern for the huge harvest of human need. We are to pray for harvesters and be harvesters reflecting our Lord’s kindness, ministering comfort and help in His name.
But it’s more than just food and medicine for the body. Kindness is Grace to those who are Lost. The Father welcomes home the ‘prodigal son’. Jesus tells us the angels rejoice in heaven over every sinner who repents and seeks God. He teaches we should show kindness even to enemies and that’s what He has done. The Holy One suffered to save those who have disobeyed, insulted Him and acted as enemies of God. Kindness sacrifices to rescue those who are perishing, who appear beyond hope.
We are all sinners. We deserve to be punished, banished from God’s presence but He, in kindness through Christ, offers us a forever home in heavenly glory.
This is kindness, grace in action. Let’s be grateful, humble ourselves and receive forgiveness and kindness from the Lord Jesus. Then, with the Spirit’s help, let’s try to reflect some of that kindness to others.
Ephesians 4v30-5v2
Christianity is a wonderfully encouraging religion!
It assures us that God our Creator is not against us but very much for us. He doesn’t make things difficult but has done much to help us to succeed and enjoy blessing in life.
He famously gave His Son to be our Saviour, Jesus gave His life on the cross to deal with our sin. That means if we’re Christians we are saved! Redeemed! Our past is forgiven, our future is secure and in the present we are delivered from evil addictions and helped to freely choose good paths. God the Spirit lives in and among us to guide and strengthen us with divine, resurrection power!
Ah, but do we notice in the reading above how it is possible for us to ‘grieve’ the Holy Spirit?
Well of course it is, the Lord the Spirit is a person who can feel welcomed by our obedience and willingness to serve. But equally the Spirit of the Lord in us can feel rejected and alienated if Christians choose to return to worldly ways such as bitterness, uncontrolled anger, greed, immorality or malicious slander. These are not things that honour our Lord. Why should He stay and continue to help us if we are determined to disobey the instructions of His Word?
So the Apostle urges his readers to consciously choose to follow and practise every day the ways of our Master Jesus, love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, holiness. As we submit to live our lives to honour Jesus, the Spirit remains within and produces the ‘fruit’ of Christlike character. This is one of them - kindness.
Now kindness is a popular thing in Western culture where it’s usually understood as being nice, tolerant, charitable. As usual, when we look at it Biblically we find that with Jesus it is so much deeper and richer for it is something that reflects the heart of God Himself. Let’s consider it under three headings.
Firstly kindness is Generosity to Everyone. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus makes the point that God, like a good Father, gives sun and rain to everyone, good or bad.
1st century eastern countries depended on farming so fair weather was crucial. Sun and rain in season provided their daily bread. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to acknowledge God as our kind Provider. Not everyone does this or even believes in God nevertheless He is happy to provide for everyone anyway because He is kind.
A good dad gladly works to feed his family and every child is welcome at the table. A child who has been naughty may forfeit dessert but no one will go to bed hungry for the Father generously provides for everyone.
Secondly kindness is Compassion to those in Need. This is one of the most attractive things we observe in Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels. He seemed to really care about people who were suffering and take delight in ministering to their need. He didn’t ‘pass by on the other side’. He healed and delivered countless people, fed whole crowds, preached good news to the poor.
The writers provide details of individual cases that show our Lord’s really beautiful way with people. We might call it His ‘bedside manner’ and it’s wonderful. He gets close and touches people, the leper, Peter’s mother in law, Jairus’ daughter. He affirms and encourages those who show faith, the centurion, the woman with the haemorrhage. He raises Lazarus from the dead but not before weeping with Mary and Martha in their loss. Jesus feels our pain!
And He teaches His followers to share His concern for the huge harvest of human need. We are to pray for harvesters and be harvesters reflecting our Lord’s kindness, ministering comfort and help in His name.
But it’s more than just food and medicine for the body. Kindness is Grace to those who are Lost. The Father welcomes home the ‘prodigal son’. Jesus tells us the angels rejoice in heaven over every sinner who repents and seeks God. He teaches we should show kindness even to enemies and that’s what He has done. The Holy One suffered to save those who have disobeyed, insulted Him and acted as enemies of God. Kindness sacrifices to rescue those who are perishing, who appear beyond hope.
We are all sinners. We deserve to be punished, banished from God’s presence but He, in kindness through Christ, offers us a forever home in heavenly glory.
This is kindness, grace in action. Let’s be grateful, humble ourselves and receive forgiveness and kindness from the Lord Jesus. Then, with the Spirit’s help, let’s try to reflect some of that kindness to others.
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