What does kindness have to do with it? Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: What does kindness have to do with it? ----------------------- Date: 06/29/1999 Keywords: "fruit" "kindness" "Spirit" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. eXXit advertises itself as a Web site designed to help you "stand strong in the face of sexual temptation." In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists nine "fruit of the Spirit," fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer. Each of these fruits — if produced — will greatly aid a believer who seeks to "stand strong." At eXXit, we believe that: The fruit of the Spirit is produced in the life of a healthy Christian, just as apples appear on a healthy apple tree. If there is any love or joy or peace in a Christian, it is ultimately the work of God. Christians can cooperate with the Spirit's desire to produce His fruit in their lives by yieldedness, faith, obedience and involvement in ministry. We hope you enjoy and benefit from these meditations on Galatians 5! Send us any feedback. We'd love to know what you think. Passage: Galatians 5:22-23* 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Question How does kindness (see verse 22) help the porn struggler?   Practical help Is kindness among your weapons for resisting Web smut? If not, consider adding it to your arsenal. Why? The word kindness comes from the Greek chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace), meaning "moral excellence in character or demeanor" (Strong's Greek-Hebrew Dictionary of the Bible). Thus kindness is more than compassion and generosity, as desirable as those traits are. Kindness vigorously embraces thoughts and actions that are noble and shoots down any that are degrading. Porn temptations stand little chance of attacking a kind person. Wishful thinking? Yes, if we had only our own wits to muster kindness. But kindness is attainable another way. Namely, by letting God give it to us. Verse 22 above indicates kindness is a result of God's Spirit at work in us. We need only ask God for it, then wait for him to deliver. As with the other eight "fruit of the Spirit," the wait increases our dependence on God. The process should bring to mind David's retort to Goliath: "The battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17:47). The upshot (besides eventual victory over smut): You "will know that there is a God" (1 Samuel 17:46). eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1999 by eXXit * Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.