Superkids, we are really going somewhere with all the fruit of the spirit we’ve learned about so far!
We’ve been on a journey to allow Jesus to flow out of us in every way possible. Being INFUSED with His Spirit and letting Him be our Shepherd, in all things, is the most adventurous life we can choose! Recently, we have been exploring two powerful fruits of the spirit: kindness and goodness. You learned that kindness is love in action, serving others like Jesus did, with a heart filled with love. Goodness is the giving, generous, do-gooder life that Jesus showed us in the Bible, meeting people’s needs because you are infused with who He is.
But here is a question worth asking: If kindness and goodness are different fruits, why do they sound so much alike? Let’s look at it a different way.
Colossians 3:12 (New Living Translation) says: “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Did you catch that? Paul says to CLOTHE yourself with these things.
Think about getting dressed in the morning. You don’t just put on one thing, you layer up! A shirt, a jacket, bottoms, then socks AND shoes. Each piece works with the others to make the full outfit. That’s how the fruits of the spirit work, too. Kindness and goodness are not competing with each other or designed to be confusing, but they are layering together!
Here’s how to tell them apart and see them work together:
Kindness is the WAY you show love. It’s gentle. It notices. It serves. Remember the ripple effect from the Zacchaeus story? One kind act spreads outward, just like ripples in water. Kindness is how Jesus showed up for people—by paying attention, stopping for the overlooked one, speaking gently to the hurting heart.
Goodness is the WHAT, the stuff or the substance of what you bring. It’s generous. It gives freely. It meets real need. Goodness puts food, clothes and tangible help into people’s hands. It’s the do-gooder spirit that says, “I see what you need, and I am going to do something about it.” Since Jesus was INFUSED with the Holy Spirit, showing up also looked like healing, blessing, casting out devils and raising the dead (Acts 10:38)! Since YOU are INFUSED with JESUS, you can show up in power, too!
When you get “dressed” in the spirit and you’ve put kindness and goodness on, you show up gently (kindness) AND you bring something real and powerful (goodness)—just like Jesus. You listen with care AND give your time, your effort, your help. That is a great outfit for any occasion!
Here’s what that looks like in everyday life, Superkid:
When you obey your parents without grumbling, that’s goodness (giving them your effort and respect) wearing kindness (a cheerful heart instead of a complaining one). When you notice a friend sitting alone and you sit with them, that’s kindness and goodness (seeing them and giving your presence and attention as a real gift). When you help a brother or sister with something hard, that’s goodness (meeting the need) wrapped in kindness (doing it gently, without making them feel dumb).
Jesus always wore both. He looked at people with kindness AND brought goodness wherever He went. He never just felt sorry for someone; He did something to help and He did it with love.
Because you are infused with Jesus, both fruits are already growing in you! You are not putting on a costume. You are getting dressed in who you already ARE and letting others see WHO is in you. Romans 15:14 says: “I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness….”
Full of goodness. Clothed with kindness. That’s you, my Superkid, showing up every day, fully dressed and ready for anything! So, make sure you are dressed today. Put on kindness and let people feel seen and served. Pull on goodness to bring something real and powerful wherever you go. The One who IS both kind and good lives inside you, ready to flow out in whatever way the moment needs.
Let’s say this out loud together: “Jesus, You are kind AND good, and You live in me! Flow out of me today, in kindness and in goodness to everyone I meet!”
Dressed for it,
Commander Kellie ♥