Character Defined by the Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2 of 3)

In my last post, I looked at love, joy, and peace—the first three fruits of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. I now turn to patience, kindness, and goodness —three more character attributes of Jesus that all his faithful followers will aspire to develop.

In John 21:15-18, we see evidence of Jesus' PATIENCE when working with Peter. Just days earlier, despite three years of friendship and intentional development, Peter had three times denied his relationship with Jesus. But despite these failures, Jesus restored Peter three times, once for each denial. Likewise, serving leaders exhibit patience with those they are developing, allowing them to fail forward.

In Luke 22:49-51, Jesus healed Malchus’ ear in a selfless act of KINDNESS while experiencing the trauma of arrest. Serving leaders compassionately focus on others with no attention to matters of self-interest.

In Acts 10:37-39a, witnesses of Jesus' life on earth testified to his GOODNESS expressed to everyone and everywhere, including places where he was hated. If we aspire to follow Jesus' model of serving leadership we will do what is good and right at all times, in all places, with all people.

[My next post will look at the last three fruits of the Spirit serving leaders must develop to be characterized as Jesus-followers.]