Good morning people who learn to love people like Jesus loves people.

Galatians 5:25 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Kindness is one of the understated parts of the one fruit of the same Holy Spirit. It truly is a superpower.

Kindness seems rare, and yet, it is so easy to be kind. It’s not always natural, but then again, we are not called to live naturally-better lives – we are called to live supernaturally-transformed lives.

Jesus was kind to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Jesus’ kindness was not weakness, and nor was it compromise where “anything goes because I just love everybody”. Jesus’ kindness was the fullness of grace and truth on display. Jesus’ kindness was transformative in its power.

Jesus was kind to little children who were brought to Him (Matthew 19:13-15). Jesus’ kindness did not turn away those His disciples thought He was too important for. Jesus’ kindness was expressed in tenderness and in taking time to hold them and bless them. Jesus demonstrated kindness by not being in a rush or too busy to spend time with those others overlooked.

Jesus was kind to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42). Jesus saw people – all people – and therefore, His kindness caused Him to engage in conversation with people whom others ignored. Jesus’ kindness was seen in a word of knowledge that was followed by a promise of living water that would make her thirst no more. Jesus’ kindness looked like something, and that something was very different to the religious mandates of the day. Jesus’ kindness led to salvation in a city.

Jesus is kind. The Father is kind. The Holy Spirit is kind.

Are you kind?

Good morning people who love like Jesus loved.

I know that I wrote on this verse recently, but the Lord is bringing it back to my mind again. Here it is:

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Part of the one fruit of the spirit is longsuffering, which is patience and forbearance. This is how God is with people, and this is how we are called to be with people too.

But I feel it is imperative to state something clearly today, and it’s this:

Longsuffering is not the same as compromise.

There’s a very good reason that the following scripture is in the Bible.

Romans 12:17-18 NIV Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Being careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone is not a license to condone sin. This is not a scripture that declares, “If you love, anything goes!” We must handle the Word of God better than some are doing.

The next verse reinforces what I am saying when it says if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. In other words, it won’t always be possible. When it comes to people demanding that we need to call evil good as a condition of relationship, we cannot live at peace with everyone. Sometimes persecution is the result of standing in truth and walking in righteousness.

But when we can – when it does depend on us – God is asking us to be people who are longsuffering with others. In this way, we reflect Jesus.

Good morning people who learn to trust God in the difficult seasons of life.

Romans 12:12 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

There are some things that it is easy to be patient for. There are other things that it is exceptionally difficult to be patient for and patient in. Let’s look at this today.

Trusting God is the essence of being patient in affliction. Our heart posture and what we say and do in the midst of affliction gives evidence as to whether we truly trust God or not. This has everything to do with patience and longsuffering.

When we take a test, there is a pass or a fail mark. Patience is a pass mark when it comes to the test of our faith.

James 1:2-4 NIV Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Facing trials of many kinds is a test of our faith. It is an opportunity to see if we believe what we say we believe when everything is going well. Perseverance – patience and longsuffering – is the intended outcome of these recurring times in our lives.

The beautiful part of God’s design is this: When we respond Godward in times when it would be easy to give up, God is using this to mature us and to complete us. In these times of patience in suffering, the following scripture is being outworked:

Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I must remind us that patience and longsuffering is the fruit of the Spirit. This is not about us willing ourselves on and relying on our own strength – that’s not how the fruit of the Spirit works. This is about us remaining in the Spirit and relying on His strength, His power and His patience.

Good morning people who are grateful for the slowness of God to anger.

Galatians 5:25 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Oh, such a lovely word – forbearance. In the KJV, the word is longsuffering (that says a lot doesn’t it). And in the Amplified Bible the word is patience.

Galatians 5:22 AMP But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

Patience is not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting. That’s powerful!

As we consider this essential part of the fruit of the Spirit, we need to start by remembering that God is patient with people. Different to the popular belief that God is quick to judge people and write them off, God is very long suffering when it comes to people and their wayward hearts.

I have often marvelled at the propensity of God’s children, Israel, to see God do incredible miracles on their behalf, only to rebel against Him and complain about Him repeatedly. I shake my head at their stubborn hearts, and then I think that I am kind of the same. God was patient with His people Israel and God is patient with you and me today.

It’s good to ask why God is patient, and the answer is found in this often-quoted scripture:

2 Peter 3:9 NIV The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Simply put, God is patient because He does not want anyone to perish. Sometimes God is slower at judging people than we think He should be because His desire is always repentance and relationship. I’m sure that Saul of Tarshish was grateful for this truth about God.

God is patient towards people who are struggling along the way.

Are you patient with others like God is patient with you?

Good morning people who put the right fuel into your mind.

There is a peace from God that is available to those who partner with God’s intention.

Philippians 4:6-8 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Firstly, Paul instructs us to pray in every situation rather than be anxious. And he tells us to pray with thanksgiving.

Secondly, Paul says that anxiety remains gone when we actively and intentionally think about “such” things.

What are these “such” things that we should think about in order to keep us free from anxiety?

Well, it’s not found in a lot of the TV and social media that some Christians feed on. Much of our intake induces anxiety, and then we ask God to remove it. Sometimes we need to “change the channel” in our lives if we want to live in the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Here’s Paul’s list of the nature of the things that we should think about:

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – anything that is excellent or praiseworthy.

So, how much of your TV viewing and social media perusing are in harmony with this list?

If it is not, what steps are you going to take this week to change this?

God wants us to have peaceful minds, and He loves us enough to make it clear what we should be thinking about.