Daily Devotional
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: KINDNESS
In this five-day devotional, we'll explore the godly attribute of kindness, the fifth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Tues., March 25 to Fri., March 29, 2025
A Spoonful of Kindness
By Ally Velsor
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“Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”—Proverbs 11:17 (NIV)_
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Have you ever been part of a “pay it forward” experiment while in a drive-thru line? The car in front pays for your order and you then pay for the car behind you. Now, I won’t judge if you’re the person who stopped it from going forward. Maybe you felt pressured to keep the chain going, or perhaps you were truly touched by the person in front of you who reminded you to pay it forward.
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When you think of it, generosity is a form of exhibiting kindness. And when the motivation is authentic, the person demonstrating kindness never expects anything in return. But when reading today’s verse out of context, we may think we should fake kindness so we can get something out of it. However, that isn’t the case at all!
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Did you know our physical and mental health benefit from a good old chain of kindness? Science has proven a simple act of kindness increases self-esteem, empathy. and compassion. Research also shows that when we practice kindness regularly, it can also decrease our blood pressure and cortisol. Additionally, it boosts serotonin and dopamine, giving us feelings of satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as releasing endorphins. Finally, when we choose kindness, it helps us stay connected with others causing less loneliness and more community.
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It's no surprise we live in a cruel world with a desperate need for kind people to be present. We’re inundated with constant news about scandals, murders, kidnappings, theft, corruption, etc. People everywhere find multiple reasons to cause divisions and excuse isolation. Every day, we have a choice to be treated the way we’ve been treated in the past or to treat others the way we hope to be treated (Luke 6:31). It’s an everyday battle having to choose kindness when cruelty is what we may have experienced from others and an unkind word is the easiest reaction to get back at them. Or, perhaps, we simply just want to have the final word.
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Kindness shouldn’t be determined by our circumstances. Being kind to those who love us isn't exercising any untoned muscle, but to extend it to someone who isn’t as loving, that’s the true test. Someone must break the chain of cruelty and, as representatives of Christ, we’re called to be that person. As His ambassadors, we’re to share the good news with those who don’t know Him—and the best way to do that is to exercise the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and show them the real Christ because they will know Him by our love (John 13:35).
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True kindness doesn’t put on a show because in the greater scheme it isn’t about us or how good we are. The reason to choose kindness should never be to receive a reward. If you think of it, you could be that person stuck paying for multiple coffee beverages when the person in front of you only paid for one—yours! If you immediately regret offering to pay when you find out how much that final bill is, your intentions might not have been as pure as you thought they were.
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We must believe the true reward of spreading kindness is so others can experience the love of Jesus and, if not doing so already, will follow Him no matter the cost. After all, kindness isn’t just contagious, it’s our best medicine to cure this sick world!
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Pause: Think of the last time one random act of kindness sparked multiple acts of kindness. How did that make you feel?
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Practice: Ask yourself how you’re going to practice kindness today. Be watchful of opportunities to be kind and show the love of Jesus.
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Pray: Lord, thank You for being the perfect example of kindness on this earth. You know how to love unconditionally and purely. I want to be more like You! I need You every second of the day to remind me to extend Your love to others. Help me to not follow my emotions when I’m angry, sad, or anxious, but to follow You. Please forgive me for those times I haven’t represented You well. I rest in You today. Amen.
Tues., March 25
Wed. March 26
Forgiving One Another
By Deb Marsalisi
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“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”—Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)
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Let’s face it, forgiveness is hard. We’re not promised an easy walk of faith. We are; however, assured we can do all things in Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) .“All things” includes forgiving those who’ve hurt us, those who aren’t remotely sorry for their behaviors, and even those who repeatedly offend us (Matthew 18:21–22). I’m always impressed by those who forgive quickly. They’re my spiritual heroes!
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For me, getting to a place of forgiveness takes a little more time. And honestly, during that time there’s a real battle between flesh and spirit that wars in my heart. It’s helpful to recognize the deeper the wound and the more frequent the offense occurs (such as a hurtful pattern), the longer it might take for some, like myself, to let go of the hurt.
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However, to walk in the newness of life the Lord has promised us (2 Corinthians 5:17), we must walk towards forgiveness in the strength Jesus Christ provides. To better wrap our hearts and minds around the idea of forgiveness, we must first look at what forgiveness is NOT.
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1. Forgiveness is NOT claiming our pain isn’t genuine. We can forgive and still acknowledge our broken hearts.
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2. Forgiveness is NOT condoning or saying someone's behavior was appropriate.
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3. Forgiveness is NOT forgetting. We aren’t wired this way
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4. Forgiveness is NOT a feeling. The Bible teaches us the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). If we’re waiting to feel forgiving towards someone, it may never happen.
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5. Forgiveness is NOT an invitation to be a doormat. Expressing clear boundaries of what’s ok and what’s not is very important
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6. Forgiveness is NOT trust. Trust is earned. It requires the offender to repent and show consistency in healthy behaviors for trust to return.
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7. Holding on to unforgiveness is NOT powerful. It doesn’t give us control, it deceives and enslaves us.
Now let’s explore what forgiveness IS to get a clearer picture of its attributes and benefits.
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1. Forgiveness IS a decision. Sometimes our feelings and intentions to forgive aren’t always in sync, but the Lord will help us align our heads and hearts in obedience to His will.
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2. Forgiveness IS strength and courage. Courage is the ability to be strong amidst pain and grief.
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3. Forgiveness IS freedom from the weight and heaviness of the offense we’ve been carrying.
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4. Forgiveness IS freedom from bitterness.
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5. Forgiveness IS costly. It cost Jesus His very life to provide us forgiveness we don’t deserve.
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6. Forgiveness IS a command (Colossians 3:13; Matthew 18:21–22; Luke 17:3–4).
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Forgiveness is a command, yet a hard truth to swallow. We forgive because God, through Christ Jesus, forgave us of ALL our wickedness and rebellion. His blood and resurrection washes us clean. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to others from a place of massive gratitude. Remember, God is not asking us to do anything He’s not willing to do Himself.
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Pause: Do you forgive quickly or does it take a little time to process the offense?
While processing an offense, there’s a warning in Hebrews 12:14–15 (NKJV) we should pay attention to: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
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Practice: Grab a journal and write Hebrews 12:14–15 on the top of the page. Then spend time recording all the ways Jesus has extended forgiveness toward you.
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Pray: Dear Lord, You have given me so much love and forgiveness. I don’t deserve it. I want to be obedient to Your command to forgive. You ask, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46 NKJV)? I need help, Lord. Allow my head and heart to align. My head knows I’m called to forgive, but my heart still hurts. Please reveal any root of bitterness and heal my hurting heart. Please help me to be kind and tenderhearted, just like You. Amen.
Thur., March 27
Dress for the Job
By Danny Saavedra
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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”—Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
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Have you ever heard the expression, “Dress for the job you want”? It’s a common saying that encourages a person to look and act the part. While I’m not exactly sure how effective that advice is in the workplace, it’s excellent advice for the Christian life!
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In today’s passage, Paul encourages believers to dress for the job and calling God has placed on each of our lives: for us to be a minister of reconciliation and Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:17–21)! Now, this isn’t something we have to aspire to become, so we’re not exactly dressing for the job we want. This is the incredible privilege God has already gifted us with as His dearly-loved children, and today’s passage encourages us to live up to that calling by clothing ourselves in the attire of an ambassador of Christ.
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So, what does it look like to dress for this job? Paul tells us it looks like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. As we continue our examination of fruits of the Spirit, we’re going to hone in on kindness today. So, the question becomes, “What does it look like to clothe ourselves with kindness?”
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Well, first let’s examine what the word even means! In essence, it means practical, useful, profitable, or serviceable goodness. It’s literally the goodness of God in action! It’s not just an attitude of niceness as we have come to see it today—the term refers to meeting real needs. It’s the goodness produced in us by the Holy Spirit which is poured out of us to meets the needs of others by serving others, while also abstaining from human cruelty or mercilessness.
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So, where do we learn how to live this way? We look to Jesus, to His life, His ministry, and His interactions as recorded in the Gospels. I think of His interactions with the woman at the well in John 4, the woman caught in adultery in John 8, Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and the leper in Matthew 8. I see it in His restoration of Peter after the resurrection. When you read the Gospels, the kindness of Jesus as expressed through His actions and interactions truly did lead people to repentance. It drew people to Him—and the same is true today! That’s why Romans 2:4 (BSB) says, “God’s kindness leads you to repentance.”
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So then, to clothe ourselves with kindness means to do good to others, to exhibit generosity in a gentle and loving manner, and to serve others with a joyful heart, all of which points them to the grace of God in Christ. The early church displayed kindness in their generosity, compassion, and care for widows, orphans, and the poor. The earliest Christians understood that even in a context where they were the persecuted minority, it was their mission to dress for their God-given calling by living out a radical love, charity, and compassion that drew people to salvation.
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This was what they were known for, so much so that in the 4th century the Roman emperor Julian noted that the explosive growth of the church was caused by their “moral character” and by “their benevolence toward strangers,” even noting that “The [Christians] support not only their poor, but ours as well.”
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May we, too, be a people eager to clothe ourselves in the kindness of Christ that casts a wide net and draws all people to our kind Savior.
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Pause: What does it look like for the believer to be clothed in kindness?
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Practice: Who can you show kindness to today? Pray about someone whom the Lord is calling you to demonstrate His kindness to and then get dressed and go do some useful and serviceable good for them in the name of Jesus!
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Pray: Father, thank You for this wonderful privilege and calling, this job of ambassador that I get to dress for each and every day. Thank You for giving me an example of how to clothe myself in Your wonderful character traits and for giving me the gift of the Holy Spirit who teaches me, guides me, and transforms me to live up to this calling. May I be a beacon of kindness to those around me so they may be drawn to You who sent Your only Son to rescue me from sin and death? There’s no more useful or serviceable goodness than Your grace, which is in Christ. To You be the glory. Amen.
Fri., March 28
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Kindness and Brotherly Love
By Samantha Rodriguez
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“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”—Micah 6:8 (NIV)
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One of the fruits of the Spirit we’ve been talking about is kindness, and one of the ways kindness is understood is through the idea of brotherly love. If you have a sibling, then you probably know what it feels like to love someone through all their flaws and in all stages of life. I have a younger brother who is one of my best friends! Growing up, we always had so much fun together, but we’d also argue and get annoyed with one another just like every other sibling. However, I still remember the frustration I felt on behalf of my brother whenever someone was mean to him in school. My instinct was to fight for him and stick up for him because of that brotherly love.
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True kindness is similar to brotherly love because it’s more than just being nice. Kindness is a sense of responsibility and a duty. It doesn’t come from thinking someone deserves it; it comes from an overflow of Christ. Kindness is an intentional lifestyle and mindset of seeking to do what Jesus would do.
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In today’s Scripture, we see kindness on display in the commands Micah instructs the Israelites with. In the verses right before these, the people question what kinds of sacrifices the Lord would be pleased with. In verse 8, Micah reassures the people that the Lord has already told the people what is good and what they should do to honor and obey Him. The following is the list Micah shares:
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Act Justly
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Justice is about what is right and making things right. God is perfectly just. We cannot be perfectly just because we are not God. However, we can act justly by submitting to God’s instructions and living with integrity. When we live this way, we’re intentionally seeking to honor God and others, and that is what real kindness is all about.
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Love Mercy
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Mercy is when a deserved consequence isn’t given. God showered His mercy on us by sending Jesus to the cross for the punishment we deserve. Because we’ve been shown mercy, it’s our honor to show mercy to others. With the love and help of the Holy Spirit, we can extend kindness through our acts of mercy!
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Walk Humbly
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When we go on a walk with someone, our relationship with them normally grows deeper as we talk and connect. The best walk we’ll ever go on in this life is our continual walk with God. Take a step back to recognize that the God of the universe wants to walk with you daily because He loves you . . . let that humble you. Let that keep your heart in a place of gratitude so you can show kindness to others out of the abundant kindness of Christ!
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Keeping in step with the Spirit means we’ll begin to lead lives that implement these practices. Allowing the fruit of kindness to be cultivated within us by spending time with Jesus daily will compel us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
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Pause: Where have you experienced or shown brotherly love and kindness in your life before? What was it like?
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Practice: Make it a point today to act with justice, mercy, and humility! Whatever it may look like, take every opportunity to intentionally be kind.
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Pray: Jesus, thank You for being so kind to me. You are the perfect example of someone who acted justly, loved mercifully, and walked humbly. I ask You to help me live in the same way as I seek to become more like you. May Your Spirit continue to mold in me these qualities and grow in me the fruit of kindness. I love you, Jesus! Amen.
Sat., March 29
What Leads to Repentance?
By Danny Saavedra
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“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”—Romans 2:4 (NIV)
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Have you ever heard someone say, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”? Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen this to be true in my life. I’ve seen it with my kids, at work, and with friends. It’s much easier to get the kids to do their chores with a good attitude when my approach is loving, kind, and framed around all of us working together because we’re a team instead of me saying, “Do your chores now, or else!”
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Today’s verse speaks to this truth. In context, Romans 1 and 2 deal with God’s wrath and man’s right standing with Him. The apostle Paul essentially explains that everyone—atheistic, pagan, or religious; immoral or moral—stands guilty under the wrath of God. Both are on equal footing. And he warns the ones who think themselves moral and condemn and stand in judgment of others, that just like the outright immoral or pagan, they don’t have a leg to stand on if they’re standing on their own merit because they’re also sinners—and hypocrites at that. And to think otherwise is to “show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience.”
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You see, it’s not wrath or condemnation that leads to repentance. It’s not the understanding that we’re under God’s wrath that causes people to turn away from their sins and be saved. Instead, “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”
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It’s knowing that IN SPITE of our sinfulness (whether it’s an outright, public sinful lifestyle or an inward, behind-closed-doors, hypocritical sinfulness or even simply a person who is neither, who truly is “good” by worldly standards, who does good things and is nice, but is still a sinner because they’re not perfect), that “at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:3–7 NIV). It’s this reality that leads us to repentance—the revelation of the gift of God’s grace in Christ causes us to turn from sin and enter into a right relationship with Christ.
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Why am I telling you this? Chances are if you’re a regular reader, you know this truth about the kindness of God that leads to repentance and have experienced it! I say this because in the same way that it’s His kindness that causes people to repent, it’s our display of the fruit of His kindness that He uses to draw people! As the Holy Spirit works in us, transforming us, pouring the image of Christ in us, pouring His kindness into us, it’s that fruit that will lead to the salvation of people around us. It’s not us winning an argument with an atheist or showing them how much we know. It’s the evidence of God’s work in us, of His kindness, that leads to repentance and gives true credibility to our message.
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Pause: Why do you believe it’s His kindness and His kindness at work in you and not the awareness of His wrath that leads to repentance?
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Practice: Write down your testimony, thinking specifically about “the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience” and how His loving kindness as displayed by the work of the gospel, is what truly brought you to repentance. Then, share it with someone!
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Pray: Father, I pray You would help me to always remember that it was because of Your loving kindness that I am here where I stand today. May this always be at the forefront of my mind and heart as I go forth in my interactions with others so my words will carry greater weight as Your kindness is produced in me and displayed through me. Amen.