The Fruit of the Spirit: Be Kind

by David Chadwick

The fifth fruit of the Spirit is kindness.

The dictionary definition of kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.” What a rich word! In the Greek language (chrestotes), it is defined as excellence or uprightness.

Kindness is a fruit that is mostly directed toward another person. Generally speaking, kindness is meant to benefit those who are in our immediate circle and those around the world. Kindness is what drives the bride of Christ to serve and to give our lives away. Kindness is what compels us to a life of sacrifice.

Jesus calls his followers to serve, not to be served. Jesus himself “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

However, I will add, one will only be as kind to others as he or she is willing to be kind to himself or herself. You must learn to be kind to yourself so that your life will extend kindness to those around you. If you do not see yourself as a blood-bought, redeemed, purchased son or daughter of the Most High God, you will have a hard time treating others the way God sees them. As Paul said in Romans 2:2: “Let the kindness of God bring you to repentance.”

As you are reminded of your own forgiveness, you will show goodness to others. You will be generous with others. You will be able to show both sympathy and empathy. Empathy is especially important because it allows you to jump into someone else's shoes and have a heart of understanding for their situation. Empathy is the ability to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.

This, too, is an attitude of God. It is the kindness of God that draws us to repentance. Seeing God’s kindness should prompt us to change our hearts to be more like him, eschewing anything that is contrary to his will and character.

As we pray and abide, may we all be driven deeper into the Spirit, who will then naturally give us more kindness toward others.

The Fruit of the Spirit: Patience is a Virtue…

by David Chadwick

Patience is a virtue… but it’s also a fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit are an all for one and one for all package deal. Once you abide in Christ and Christ in you, you will bear much fruit (John 15:5).

When we are abiding with Jesus, connected to the Spirit, we will operate in patience. The word patience in the Greek is makrothymia. It means long suffering or fortitude. It implies a willingness to be willing to wait in spite of what our eyes can see. In the Amplified Bible, patience is described not as “the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting.”

Patience is proven in a heart that trusts every minute and second to God’s perfect, providential plan. It is evidenced in a heart that is yielded to God’s timetable for everything.

As we learn to wait on the Lord and trust him in everything, our strength arises. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Even in the midst of chaos and destruction, we can remain confident that God has neither abandoned us nor his world. As we remain in the waiting room of faith, God builds us and makes us stronger.

Do any of you lift weights? If so, you know that weight lifters are made stronger by lifting heavier weights. In the same way, followers of Jesus are made stronger by lifting heavier “waits.” Sometimes it is only in the waiting of God’s timing and purposes that our spirits become stronger and stronger.

Dear friends, did you know that we are in a war? We have been called by God to strengthen ourselves in the Lord, much like David did when he was in great distress (1 Samuel 30:6). David knew the fruit of enduring and being long-suffering. In doing so, we can run and grow weary, walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

I pray for God’s Spirit to be enlarged in each of your hearts so that more patience would come to your souls!

The Fruit of the Spirit: “Peace I Leave With You”

by David Chadwick

The third fruit of the Spirit is peace.

The movie Sister Act 2 has an incredible scene where the nuns perform the song “Ball of Confusion” in a nursing home. Every time I hear this song, I’m reminded that the chaos of humanity has always existed. There has never been a time in history where the devil has not desired to release a ball of confusion all over the world. As the song says, “So, round and around and around we go. Where the world’s headed, nobody knows.”

But in the midst of chaos, Jesus entered the chaos of this world and said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

As God’s children, there are two aspects of his peace that we have access to when we are rightly and securely abiding in his Spirit.

First, we have an eternal peace of knowing that we are no longer at war with God. He has reconciled us to himself. We are no longer his enemies. He now calls us friends (John 15:15). This peace accord with God, signed and sealed with Jesus’s blood, is irrevocable. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can ever separate us from his love!

Second, we have a present peace that is available to us each and every day. Because of Jesus, his Spirit now lives inside of us. So, when storms come, we can now hear Jesus’s voice saying to us, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Like any good Father, God desires to be on the boat with us as we face the storms of life.

Jesus promises to be with us always. Forever. Until the close of the age (Matthew 28:20). He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

And now, we can approach the throne of grace any time, any place, as God’s friends. God’s peace now resides in us and because of Jesus, we are now at peace with him. From that place of peace, we can boldly ask him anything and know that he hears us and will answer our every prayer according to his perfect will.

I pray for the Spirit to give you more peace today and each day moving forward until Jesus returns.