Kindess: The Culture of a Holy Nation

Galatians 5:22 says:

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

It is hard to drive from one end of town to the other without running into evidence of the lack of kindness in our world. I live in a small community, it is still common to find people who are willing to “let you in” when traffic is heavy. It is one of the things that I most noticed when I moved here from Lansing. I wasn’t used to the common courtesies of a small town but I soon grew to appreciate them and adopt them.

Little things like letting someone pull into traffic ahead of you or inviting someone to step ahead of you on the line at the grocery store when they only have a few items. Someone might argue with me, but I didn’t notice it happening all that much when I lived in a big city.

I realized after getting settled in here that I couldn’t go too many places without being recognized by someone I knew. That must contribute to the prevalence of kindness. You never know who might be watching!

The more that I have gotten used to the pleasantries of small town living, I have grown ashamed of the memory of my total lack of courtesy when I lived in Lansing. Instead of putting others before myself, I looked for the fastest,
most convenient path for me. I would cut people off, cut into lines, take twenty items into the ten items or less line…

The Holy Spirit is reminding me to cut myself some slack – I wasn’t even a Christian then!

Take a few minutes to meditate on Galatians 5:22.
When the Holy Spirit controls our lives – he will produce…kindness.

The natural opposite of this is that when we are not being kind, when we are not putting other’s needs ahead of our own, we are not being controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Can you think of some times in the recent past when you were not very kind to others?

Take a few more minutes now and pray:

Father God, I thank You that You have shown me so many kindnesses in my life. I ask You to forgive me for the times when I have lived my life according to my own schedule and not considered the needs or feelings of others around me. I ask You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me now to show genuine kindnesses to others. In Jesus Name, Amen.