In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul wrote if we are truly being led by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit will be evident. In prayer this morning, the Lord put on my heart to write about the word Kindness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:25
The biblical definition of kindness is:
Kindness (Greek-Chrestos: Strong’s G5544) moral integrity, doing what is right in a gentle manner. Pleasant as opposed to hard, sharp, harsh, bitter.
I came from a family who always swept bad behavior under the rug. It was whispered behind closed doors and then forgotten. Until the person did it again. The bad behavior was rarely confronted head on, and because of that, many people continued to get hurt. Unfortunately, I am talking about my now deceased biological father. He used and sold drugs, was a bookie, stole, lied, got into fights and was a womanizer. He went through three divorces (first one being my mother) and blamed his ex wives for his horrid behavior. I would try to tell family members what he was doing, but NOTHING was ever done. They had “talks” with him, and of course he “vowed” to change, but matters were always kept swept under the rug. Until he died, he continued to hurt other people, including me. His only child. I was left holding the bag of emotional devastation.
Was refusing to confront, and do something about his bad behavior, kindness? Or would have putting a stop to it, been kindness to his daughter, and the people he continued to hurt? I remember my mother and others refusing to put my dad in jail because was that really necessary? I believe if people had stood up to my dad’s bullying and evil behavior that I may have lived a different life. That many people would not be carrying around the wounds and damage he inflicted. True kindness is something I have had to learn in my life. It is a skill, and kindness led by the power of the Holy Spirit will bear fruit, and fruit that remains.