The Fruit of the Spirit (5/9) – Kindness

Descipleship

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23
(NASB® © 2020)
Mark as Favorite and save for later! (0)
Please login to bookmark Close

The Lord Jesus once said that we are destined to bear fruit. Our goal in life should, therefore, be to bear lasting fruit that is so valuable to God.

Ultimately, fruit means reflecting the characteristics of the Lord Jesus. When He is seen in us, God is glorified.

In this series, we want to reflect on the individual fruits that the Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives. And since our Lord is always the perfect role model (cf. Mt 11:29; Jn 13:15; 1 Pet 2:21), we will look directly at incidents from His life where these characteristics become visible.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is … kindness …”

This term usually refers to the character trait of God that led him to save people (e.g. Eph 2:7; Rom 2:4; Tit 3:4).

Kindness is, therefore, the endeavor to show smaller or larger favors to another person. It has to do with love and helpfulness.

A kind believer is able to do good to others without asking for anything in return (Luke 14:12), to lend money without expecting it back (Luke 6:34, 35), and to greet everyone in a friendly manner, even if they look at you harshly.

Kindness means behaving in such a way that our peers “see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Mt 5:16). Kindness is lighting a fire for someone cold and preparing a bed for someone homeless (Acts 28:2). Kindness is having a good, benevolent heart – and showing it.

Examples of kindness from the life of the Lord that we can learn from:

  • The Lord Jesus went about doing good and healing (Acts 10:38), always looking for those who needed help.
  • The Lord Jesus cared for those in need even when the busy day was long over, and He was surely tired (Mark 1:32-34).
  • The Lord Jesus saw the hunger of thousands of people and cared for them (John 6:5).
  • The Lord Jesus comforted the broken hearted (Lk 7:13).
  • The Lord Jesus cared for outcast, unpopular, sinful people (Jn 4:1-30).
  • The Lord Jesus cared for someone for whom no one had had an eye for 38 years (Jn 5:5-8).

Comments (0)

No comments yet.

Share this article:

You want to contact us? Ask a question or let us know what you think! 

Write a message here!

Leave a Comment

Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (9/9) – Self-Control/Self-Discipline

In this article, we explore the fruit of self-control, showing how believers can reflect Christ’s character by practicing moderation and discipline in all areas of life, and drawing lessons from how Jesus exemplified self-control in His daily actions and decisions.
Galatians 5:22-23; Proverbs 25:28; 1 Corinthians 9:25
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (8/9) – Gentleness

In this article, we explore the fruit of gentleness, showing how the Holy Spirit shapes believers to reflect Christ’s calm, forgiving, and patient character—even in the face of insults, disappointments, or personal attacks—using Jesus’ life as the ultimate example.
Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 11:29; Luke 23:34
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (7/9) – Faithfulness

We are called to bear lasting fruit—and at the heart of it is faithfulness. Join us as we explore how the Spirit shapes reliability in our lives, modeled perfectly in Jesus’ unwavering devotion to His Father and His people.
Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 25:20-21; 1 Corinthians 4:2
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (6/9) – Goodness

In this article, we explore the fruit of goodness, showing how the Lord Jesus modeled kindness, generosity, and selfless action, and how believers can reflect His character by overcoming evil with good and doing what is right for others.
Galatians 5:22-23
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (4/9) – Longsuffering

True fruitfulness is seen when the character of Christ is reflected in us. Beginning with longsuffering, we discover how the Lord Himself modeled patient endurance and gentle forbearance—even in the face of betrayal, misunderstanding, and suffering.
Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 2:23; Proverbs 15:18; 19:11
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (3/9) – Peace

True peace isn’t the absence of storms—it’s the calm confidence that everything is in God’s hands. In this reflection on the fruit of the Spirit, we look to Jesus Himself as the perfect example of peace in the midst of turmoil—and how we can walk in that same peace today.
Galatians 5:22-23; John 14:27; Mark 4:37-38
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (2/9) – Joy

True joy isn’t tied to circumstances—it’s rooted in Christ. In this reflection on the fruit of the Spirit, we see how the Lord Jesus Himself lived a life of deep, enduring joy. And as His followers, we’re called to reflect that same joy—radiant, unshakable, and real.
Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10
Descipleship

The Fruit of the Spirit (1/9) – Love

What kind of love bears lasting fruit in God’s eyes? In this reflection, discover the selfless, sacrificial love of Christ—a love that serves, forgives, and even embraces enemies. It’s the first and greatest fruit of the Spirit—and our calling.
Galatians 5:22-23; John 13:34-35