Written and researched by: Sister Myrtice Robinson
The Apostle Paul gives us a lifestyle picture of a “Holy Spirit” filled life of a Christian through his letter to the Galatians. Highlighting what he called the “Fruit of the Spirit.” He was given permission by God to list nine characteristics that reap a harvest of nourishing fruit in the life of a believer. They are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. Each slice of the fruit will show you where you are in Christ, how to relate to others, and will give you more understanding of how to think, act, and be like Christ. The results will be a “Sweet” heart!
It is now time to connect Patience, kindness, Goodness (the second cluster of the Fruit of the Spirit) to Love, Peace, and Joy (The first cluster of the Fruit of the Spirit). The second cluster cannot operate within God’s Will without the manifestation of the first cluster. Each cluster has a particular focus on free-will, trust, and obedience.
Love is first because God is Love. Without love, our good works are in vain, useless, and does not glorify God. Peace brings comfort and enable us to partner with God’s will. Joy comes from the happiness and the glowing of God’s Spirit. Love, peace, and joy are clustered together because they show relationship with God. The Spirit of God has to enter into one’s body, mind, and soul and it must become man’s will to accept it and if it is accepted; love, peace, and joy become a delight to man. A “sweet” tasteful fruit” As stated in Psalm 34:8, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” This happens from spending time with God. This is where we learn and be filled with God-like Love, and we learn the Love of the Holy Trinity; we learn to rest in His peace, and to feel heavenly joy (a smile is stuck to your face.) After experiencing the first cluster then we can have patience, kindness, and goodness toward others without struggling. We can share with others in a God-like way without any regrets. In my opinion, the first cluster is the beginning of divine spiritual growth and without it you cannot have a pure heart. You cannot connect spiritually with the second cluster because “The Fruit of the Spirit consists of characteristics that make us more like Christ” and as believers, we must follow the life of Christ. The second cluster is about relationships with mankind. We need God-like Love to follow Jesus and out of this love flows the Peace of God and the Peace of God brings Joy-unspeakable joy. Imagine your state of mind at this point! A piece of Heaven down in your soul! (Reference Scriptures: 1 Corinthian 13 (The Greatest Gift); Galatians 5 (Christian Liberty); Philippians 2: 2-4 (Unity Through Humility); Matthew 12:34 (A Tree known by Its Fruit).
Welcome to the second cluster of the Fruit of the Spirit: Patience; Kindness; Goodness.
Patience, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1: 12). Patience is the ability to tolerate difficult people and circumstances without desiring to hate or harm them and without losing hope in the promises of God. As a Christian, we are called to be patient. The Bible teaches us in Colossians 3:12, as the elect of God, holy and beloved to put on… longsuffering. Patience is required for healing and success as well as self-worth. According to Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Be patient with God and in the wait be cheerful, prayerful, and thankful. And “When the Lord does arrive, things will most definitely change (Revelation 21: 3-4)! Your suffering at the hands of others will be over. You will enjoy the continuing presence of Jesus. And, He the judge, will also take vengeance upon your enemies. Indeed, everything will be made right.” Furthermore, until our Lord who loves us much comes to settle things, we must live with our adversaries peaceably, remaining patient, obedient, and grateful to God’s promises. James 5: 7-9 states, “Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren lest you be condemned.” Pray for the Holy Spirit to train you in patience. Proverbs 9:11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” Patience is peace to the body, mind, and soul.
Helpful Scriptures:
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
Kindness is a “sweet” heart. It is selfless, compassionate, and full of mercy and forgiveness. It is the fullness of love. It is a smile that releases pain and encouragement that heals the mind, body, and soul. It is words that set the captive free; words such as, How are you today, excuse me please, may I help you, you are welcome, thank you very much, I love you, have a good day, let me help you with that, give me a hug, etc. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Kindness is an important element of Christians living the gospel. “It makes me feel special and wanted when I think about being the apple of God’s eye.” (reference: Psalm 17:8). Saying the words, “I don’t care” sound very unkind because kindness shows you care. Kindness is being concerned about others welfare. If you know one is sick check on them and pray sincerely for them. That’s being kind to others. Kindness cares about one being sad or discouraged, struggling or in pain, needy or lonely. So many Christians are afraid to be kind to others because they do not want to help them in their time of need, so they deliberately do not check on them. This is unkind. Remember God knows your heart, thoughts, and desires and everyone will reap what they sow. The Lord does not want His servants quarreling, but He wants us to be kind to everyone according to 2 Timothy 2: 24. Another example of kindness was King David showing kindness to his friend Jonathan’s family (2 Samuel chapter 9). Christians are to listen and watch for the needs of others. God listens and watches us according to 1 Peter 3: 12, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayers.”
Kindness is one of the ways you can tell from a person’s life if they are a follower of Christ. Ephesians 4: 32 (NIV)says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.” As God’s chosen people you must clothe yourselves in kindness. (Reference: Colossians 3:12) Love is kind (reference: 1 Corinthians 13) and kindness clears the path for Goodness.
Wow! Goodness is here! “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” (1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV) Goodness is an action and a choice. When we strive and boast about our good, it is only for our own benefit, it is not true goodness that we give. It is to please man and not God. When God is glorified in our giving then it is an act of goodness. When we have selected people to do good for, it is not true goodness. God rains on the good and the bad. It is stated in Matthew 5:44-45, “ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” God is Good all the time! In addition, Matthew 5: 46, “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Charitable deeds before men to receive praise from men have no reward from God. (reference: Matthew 6: 1-4).
In my opinion, goodness is an act of a pure heart. A pure heart is what a true believer desire. A pure heart can make people feel loved, wanted, and safe. A believer with a pure heart is not always right or perfect, but they have a strong will to do what is right. And, when they do wrong, it is not intentional, one regrets it and seeks God’s forgiveness quickly through repenting.
I love the way Apostle Peter described Jesus in Act 10:38, “He went around doing good.” What a beautiful Portrait of Jesus. One that all believers are required to follow. Jesus listened to the depressed and He comforted them with kind words, He helped the people with leprosy, He anointed the eyes of a blind man with mud, He showed care and love for the children, He healed with a touch, He fed the hungry, He visited the sick, etc. These were acts of goodness. Goodness is not “I do for my friendship circle.” It is about your goodness for everyone. It is about doing good without a cost because your trust is in Jesus. Jesus pursued/looked for those in need of His goodness, for example, the woman with the issue of blood, Mary and Martha, the centurion’s servant, Jesus washed the tired feet of His disciples, etc. Goodness is a personal, hand-on, close up performance. It is not asking someone else to do it for you or paying them to do it for you. Proverbs 3:27-28 (MSG) says, “Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor, ‘Maybe some other time’ or ‘Try me tomorrow’ when the money is right there in your pocket.” Helping others in a God-like way is goodness. Being good can be a battleground just because you decided to let goodness become a part of your lifestyle. “Good and evil are a constant struggle.” (Reference: Revelation 12:17). Many will hate you just as the pharisees hated Jesus for His goodness, but Jesus was not drawn into hate with them. The will to obey God will make you strong enough to resist evil and will give you the desire to practice “good” daily not “just” sometimes. Remember, Believers can do all things through Christ who strengthen them; for the Holy Spirit is our helper and dwells within us. “We cannot be our best until we allow the Spirit of God to work within us so that Jesus Christ living through us can touch this world with goodness.” God has placed within us the ability to perform goodness which can be lived daily if you choose to pursued it. It is a choice. It is the desire of one’s heart to touch others with the goodness of God.
Helpful Scripture: “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten SON, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting LIFE! For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3: 16-17
THAT’S GOODNESS!
I conclude with my favorite poem that motivates me to continue to practice the “Fruit of the Spirit” everyday: “Do It Anyway”
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough.
Give the best you’ve got anyway.
You see,
in the final analysis it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.
Written and researched By Sister Myrtice Robinson
Grandmothers of Hope Society Ministry
References:
- The Holy Bible (versions: KJV, NIV, ESV)
- The Billy Graham Training Center Bible (NKJV)
- Growing More Like Jesus by Elizabeth George
- Nine Fruit of the Spirit (A Devotion Series by Robert Strand)