We live in a world that is experiencing all types of frustrations and challenges. We have been dealing with Covid, with the threat of war, with inflation, and with all kinds of relational issues. Our world seems to get busier with more and more things to challenge us concerning our time. Many times, we are tempted to respond in a negative way, and it carries over into our relationships and dealings with others. In times like these the word kindness is not the word others would think of when they listen or watch our lives.

Yet, we are constantly instructed to be kind to others in scripture. Ephesians 4:32 instructs us this way, “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

If we respond to life situations with anger or rage and we profess to be followers of Jesus, then our witness is tarnished and then we are just adding fuel to the fire and the end result can become ugly. We see this lack of kindness shown primarily in traffic or on social media.

If a person is guilty what can that person do in order to change? The Bible again gives us instruction: it tells us that the answer is found in being filled with the Spirit of God.

Kindness is listed as one of the evidences or fruits of one being filled with God’s Spirit in Galatians 5:22 where it says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,” etc. We need to ask the Lord to keep us filled with His Spirit daily and then there is no room for the acts of the sinful nature which conflict with an attitude and action such as kindness.