The fruit of the Spirit is not a fruit that we eat, it's a fruit that grows inside of us! When we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us to make us more like him. This means that we start growing the fruit of the Spirit - fruit like patience, kindness and goodness - which is the good fruit that God wants us to have in our lives. This fruit shows that we love God, and it helps us to show his love to others. Let's check out one of the fruits of the Spirit now!
KINDNESS
When we have the fruit of kindness we look for ways to help others by choosing to do kind things for them. When we show kindness to others we show them God's love too! Let's check out a Bible story to help us understand more about the fruit of kindness:
Jesus told this story to teach us that God wants us to be kind to everyone. No-one expected the good Samaritan to be kind, but he was. He could have walked straight past like the other men did but he chose to stop to help the man who was hurt. He took him to a place where he could get better and he paid for it with his own money. He really cared about the man. He was very kind and showed God's love to the man by the way he treated him.
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Can you think of kind things that others have done for you?
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What could you do to show someone kindness today?
God wants us to choose to do kind things just like the Samaritan. When we think about others and how they are feeling, and choose to help them, we are showing the fruit of kindness. When you play a game that your friend wants to play rather than your own game, you are being kind. When you help your mum or dad by carrying a bag; or help your little sister or brother to stop crying, you are showing the fruit of kindness. You are caring about them and trying to help to make them feel better. When we do kind things we show God that we love him, and we show his love to others too!
Dear Lord, Thank you that when I follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in me to grow lots of good fruit. Please give me more of the fruit of kindness in my life so that I will care about other people and show your love by doing kind things for them. Amen.
