The Fifth Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness

Different roots produce different fruits.  Apple trees produce apples.  Orange trees produce oranges.

Roots in Jesus reflect His character.  When your life is rooted in Jesus, the fruit you bear is His (Galatians 5:22-23).  It happens out of the overflow of Him in you.

Kindness is the fourth fruit of the Spirit.  It’s more concerned for another person than oneself.  It practices daily empathy - trying to understand the feelings and life situations of others.  Kindness and empathy together cultivate selflessness.  We live for the benefit of others.

Kindness wants to serve more than to be served.  Jesus was the greatest servant of all.  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  His death on the cross was the greatest act of kindness in human history.

Jesus taught His disciples that they too must become servants.  He overturned the value structure of the world when he explained to them: “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mark 10:44).

Before Jesus died for us, He left us with an example of His kindness: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).  Kindness washes the feet of others.   

Put your life’s roots deeply in Jesus.  Empathize.  Be kind!

The proof of this fruit will be the ways that you go and give your life away to others.