Understanding the Fruits of the Spirit - Kindness - By Donna L Young
The free encyclopedia Wikipedia defines "A random act of kindness" as a "selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual." But what does an act of kindness mean when Christians are speaking of the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
Holy Spirit's Kindness
When Christians live a holy and righteous life, by not giving into the works of the flesh such as hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions and drunkenness, (Galatians 5:19-21) then, they will find themselves in the middle of an orchestra, conducted by God, and being led by the Holy Spirit.
An orchestrated Act of God-Not a random act of kindness
In the past, I gave gifts to others to cheer them up or as tokens of love or appreciation. These personal acts of kindness made me feel a sense of satisfaction.
Then, I gave my life to Christ and in return, He bestowed His Holy Spirit upon me. Now I am able to offer more than a brief moment of happiness. In fact, through the Holy Spirit's work in me, I have witnessed lasting joy, hope, and peace that started from one act of kindness. It is my belief, that God orchestrates events to reach others and glorify His Holy name. When I obey prompting by the Holy Spirit to act kind to others, the outcome is unforgettable!
A Perfect Example
I love to tell the story of the couple God used me to reach in the church I had only attended a few times. While sitting in the small, quaint church one day, I had an overwhelming desire to write a check for a couple who were active church members. I didn't know them at all, as I had only attended this church a few times. Further, I didn't have the money in my checking account to cover check and I worried that I would be charged a $29.00 bank fee if the check was returned.
However, this unfamiliar, yet overwhelming feeling to give money to this couple overpowered my fears. I heard myself say, under my breath, "Okay Lord," and wrote the check. The amount I wrote the check for was $100.00. As I handed the check to the husband, he looked at me with surprise. I explained that I didn't understand why he was to receive this check, but God was clear that I was to give it to him. The man thanked me and we all left the church.
But wait, there's more!
Even though there is no mail service on Sunday, I had the same urgent feeling to check the mail. So, I went to the mailbox and opened it. Sure enough, I had mail. I must have forgotten to pick it up the day before. In the pile of mail was a check to me for $107.00. I began to cry. Once inside my apartment, I praised God and hit my knees. The Holy Spirit was guiding me to be kind to others for God's purpose. I was deeply affected that God trusted me to reach his people.
What was the outcome?
I returned to the same church a few weeks later and spoke with the wife of the couple. She explained that due to the current bad economy, they were experiencing hardship and would have lost their home, had they not been able to make a small mortgage payment. I cried yet again and praised God.
Donna L. Young graduated from Liberty Baptist University with a Masters Degree in Theological Studies and is the Author of the book "Apologies from a Repentant Christian." To learn more about this author, please visit: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_L_Young Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6222784
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