Kindness is a popular concept. 

So many people – Christians and non-Christians – encourage kindness on social media posts. Yet, ironically, social media is a largely hostile place. How does that happen? 

One explanation might be that a flawed and sinful creature cannot sustain anything that is not of the Spirit.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Fellow believers, never have I felt more compelled to let the Holy Spirit reign in my heart and to encourage others to do the same! 

Kindness is a good start, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit is one fruit with many characteristics:

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Faithfulness
• Gentleness
• Self-Control   

We often wonder how people cope with the death of loved ones when they do not believe in the promises of the resurrection. These days, I wonder how people cope with the chronic trauma inflicted on them because of the Covid pandemic. 

As followers of Jesus, we never want to be responsible for adding to people’s burdens. Instead, we should always be the encouragers in the room – the ones in whom the fruit of the Holy Spirit is evident.

As I said earlier, we cannot be the encouragers by our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit others need to experience. So make regular worship, devotions, prayer time, and Bible study part of your routine. These are all times when the Holy Spirit can and will reside in your heart so you can be a welcome voice in the wilderness. And do it consistently.

Let us all reject the ways of the world. Display only those characteristics that are of the Spirit:

• Love – not hate
• Joy – not despair
• Peace – not anxiety ­­
• Patience – not impatience
• Kindness – not cruelty
• Goodness – not evil
• Faithfulness – not faithlessness
• Gentleness – not bullying
• Self-Control – not unrestrained   

This is no time to worry about pushing your faith on others. If ever there was a time when people needed to know the Jesus you love, this is it! So before you respond to that post – before you post an opinion – before you unfriend someone, consider how what you are about to do lines up with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

The world watches how Christians respond to things around them. By the power of the Holy Spirit, do all you can to make sure they see the love of Christ through you.

Be blessed,

Are you overwhelmed with the negativity of the world?

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