Friday Nurturing Content - 11/17/23

Happy Friday, Friend!

How’s your fruit harvesting going?!

Have you found yourself to be more patient, loving, peaceful, or kinder this month? Or, has it proven to be a bit more difficult that you thought it’d be?

As a reminder, we’re reviewing the nine fruits of the Spirit that are found in Galatians 5:22-23 all throughout the month of November.

Our challenge for this month has been to take one fruit that we haven’t yet mastered and work on it throughout the month using the resources from our November Success Guide as well as through our Facebook group and, naturally, through these weekly emails.

Today, I’d like to continue where we left off last week…

Let’s take a look at the next three fruits: Forbearance (Patience), Kindness, & Goodness.

Forbearance/Patience:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” -Colossians 3:12-13

"Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly." -Proverbs 14:29

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

Forbearance is perhaps an outdated word that we no longer frequently use. However, it’s definition is humbling as it means to have patient self-control or restraint. Patience is, in fact, a virtue. It encourages us to persevere through our difficulties and extend grace to others.

Our patience toward others and our circumstances is to be modeled after God’s enduring patience with us. For, rather than banning all of humanity from His presence, God chose to patiently call us to repentance and presented us an opportunity for reconciliation through His son, Jesus. We can be patient with others because God is ever so patient with us!

As Christians, we are called to not just be patient with our brothers and sisters in the Church but to also live in peace with those around us . This can certainly be challenging, but the more often that we respond in love and not anger when differences arise between us and when circumstances do not go our way, the more evident is the fruit of patience in our lives.

Kindness:

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." -Ephesians 4:32

“But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.” -Luke 6:35-36

Kindness is the act of looking beyond our own selfish interests and toward the interests of others. It involves a gentle and compassionate demeanor; a soft tone that holds no reproach. Kindness doesn’t go after what is deserved—either good or bad—because it sets aside what may be warranted for what is right.

You may deserve the promotion, but kindness is rejoicing in the promotion of your co-worker. Your neighbor may warrant a scolding for his loud and unruly children, but kindness is extending them a neighborly greeting instead.

It is easy to be kind to those who are loving toward us. But, greatest power of the Spirit is revealed within us when we extend kindness to our enemies and to those most undeserving. Just remember the catchy phrase from the ever-popular 90s bracelets: What would Jesus do?

Goodness:

"Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in his ways." -Psalm 25:8

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9

While kindness an outward expression of the practical ways in which we love others, goodness is the internal quality that we develop through our relationship with God. It encompasses moral excellence, honesty, and righteousness.

The Bible mainly uses the word good to refer to what is pure and holy. In Mark 10:17-18, Jesus makes it a point by stating that only the perfect and holy God is truly good. God's goodness is meant to be our standard, and as Christians, we are called to reflect His goodness in our character and actions.

So, how do we go about being good and doing good if we are not perfect and holy? We do so by getting into a right relationship with God and allowing His Spirit to convict us to walk in righteousness; to be honest even when it comes at a cost; to have a moral compass that points straight to Jesus.

Every time we obey the Word of God, we bear the fruit of goodness in our life!

I encourage you, my friend, to find some time this week to cultivate patience, kindness, and goodness in your little corner of the world. Wherever you are and whatever you find yourself doing, share a little bit of Jesus with others and watch how the Spirit transforms you from within!

Dedicated to your success,

Coach Tam