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Refreshment in Refuge
by Gina Burgess
Kindness is the outward evidence of the Spirit. When we show kindness we are extending God's hand to others around us. Frankly, I do not see a whole lot of kindness in the Church. It takes effort and energy and it takes all the other parts of the gift of the Spirit in order to evidence kindness.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance. Against such things there is not a law.
A person in deep depression has little thought of exhibiting kindness for he is wrapped up in his own Hell. That is the main reason depression hangs on so long, because the depressed person is so often looking inwardly. So, it takes joy of the heart in order to have the courage to extend kindness to fellow man. It takes love to exhibit kindness, for without love kindness is not evident, for through love springs the gift of the Spirit because God is love.
Without peace, there is no kindness for turmoil and war in the mind and heart drowns out all thoughts of others and that builds a bridge to depression and despair. Peace fills the heart and gives power for patience.
Patience – long-suffering – roots of kindness. A tree with shallow roots falls over in the first huff of wind. Kindness stems from patience because patience stalls the hasty reply, stalls the anger before it forms and causes the advent of forgiveness before bitterness can germinate.
Therefore, in Paul's list of the fruit of the Spirit (please note it is all one fruit, not multiple fruits) Kindness is the turning point from the inward spring to the outward flow of the Spirit.
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Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.
She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.
If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon
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