THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: Part Three -- Devotional for November 21, from "Good Seeds"

What happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity, a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, and able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. (Galatians 5:22-23)

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are filled and empowered by God to live as He designed and intended for them to live – and those who are not. Listen to these intriguing lyrics…

Master Designer, whoever You are, all of this beauty both near and afar
can’t just have happened, the odds are too great. There must be a plan, we’re not left to fate. All of this beauty is far too convincing. Master Designer, Your Word must be true. Of all Your creations man is the dearest – Help me to simply believe now in You.

To become part of that first group requires one thing: we must believe in God, including His plan to redeem us and restore us to the way He intended for us to be from the very beginning. And when we believe the Truth and live the Life, and follow the Way (John 14:6), we will start to behave in certain ways, ways that could not be faulted by the sincerest of unbelievers (though unachievable by them). Those ways are called “The fruit of the Spirit.” We’ve looked at four of them. There are five more, as described in our passage. The fifth fruit of the Spirit is KINDNESS. Although “it takes all kinds to make a world,” and there’s glory in variety, it is also true that “if you’re not kind, you’re the wrong kind.” In God’s economy there is definite right and wrong, and it is definitely wrong to be unkind. There are many ways human beings can connect with one another, but unless and until we connect at the heart level, we are less than human. Animals, even plants, can procreate and work together in symbiosis, but only those created in the image of God can feel and demonstrate compassion from the heart. And then there’s GOODNESS. Such a general term, but Peterson gives this particular interpretation: Everything God made was designed with purpose; that is how its beauty is defined and manifested. A basic holiness permeates every corner of His creation – that is, every entity must be separated unto its purpose and protected from being polluted or misused. Linking goodness with kindness causes the fruitful Christian to be the best steward and protector of both the physical and his human environment.