Choosing Kindness
God has called us to live differently — to live set apart.
In Galatians 5, we are given a picture of what a life led by the Holy Spirit looks like.
These are not personality traits. They are not things we manufacture on our own. They
are evidence of the Holy Spirit living and working inside of us.
But walking in the Spirit is not passive. It is something we choose daily as we surrender
our flesh, our emotions, and our circumstances to Christ.
Each week, we will focus on one Fruit of the Spirit and what it looks like to live it out in
our everyday lives — in our marriages, in our families, and in the world around us.
This week, we are focusing on Kindness.
Galatians 5:22–23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. “
As I was meditating on the Fruit of the Spirit — Kindness
— my heart was drawn to
one of my favorite verses on forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:32 says,
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ
forgave you.”
You may be asking yourself, “How in the world does forgiving others have anything to
do with me being kind?” Friend, it has everything to do with it. Forgiving those who have hurt you softens your heart and opens it up to walking in kindness. When we release unforgiveness, we make room for compassion, grace, and tenderness to grow within us.
I truly believe that if we want our hearts to reflect genuine kindness, we must first make
sure we have forgiven those who have wronged us.
When we hold on to unforgiveness — for whatever reason — our hearts can begin to
harden. Over time, we may lose the compassion and tenderness that God desires for us
to carry. And when our hearts become hardened, kindness toward others often becomes
more difficult. Kindness is closely connected to tenderness, generosity, warmth, attentiveness, and a
deep sense of care for others. It is not simply about being polite — it is about having a
heart posture that reflects the love of Christ.
Proverbs 31:26 says,
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”This is the kind of person I desire to be.
I want my words to be shaped by kindness. I want my responses to reflect wisdom and grace.
Choosing kindness does not mean avoiding truth or shying away from difficult conversations. Instead, it means recognizing that how we speak, the posture of our heart, and the tone of our words truly matter. If I want those around me to know and understand the love of a God who gave
everything for me, then I must first allow my own heart to be shaped by His Spirit. I
must choose to walk in kindness. We live in a world where unkindness often feels normal. Harsh words, quick judgments, and hardened hearts seem to surround us. But as followers of Christ, we are called to be different — to be set apart.
Living for Christ and showing kindness to others should go hand in hand.
Today, ask yourself:
Is there someone I need to forgive so that my heart can be softened again?
How can I intentionally choose kindness in my words and actions?
When we choose kindness, we reflect the very heart of God.
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