Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (Colossians 3:12)
Most of us take great care as to what clothes we wear for all sorts of different occasions in life. We have clothes of different styles, colours and weights for different events and seasons.
Being an outdoor man from way back, I still list my clothes into three different categories. Clothes that get hung up in the wardrobe are either ‘good’ or ‘casual’ with my ‘work clothes’ being stacked in a draw.
But clothes of the above kind are put on and put off to suit whatever the occasion. My point is - what about the kind of spiritual clothing God’s children should be wearing all the time! Our text above tells us of some of these. These clothes are those that need to be developed in our lives. The garment I have singled out for this week is “kindness.” How kind are you? Is “kindness” so evident in your life that those around you immediately identify you with this beautiful ‘fruit of the Spirit’ garment? (Gal. 5;22).
Many have favorite colors in their wardrobe which soon becomes known to others. Do others equally identify you with the garment of kindness?
Just so there is no doubt what kindness looks like, here is a definition by Alexander Strauch, from his book Leading With Love: Kindness is a readiness to do good, to help, to relieve burdens, to be useful, to serve, to be tender, and to be sympathetic to others. It has been said, “Kindness is love in work clothes.”