Memory Verse -
But
the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There
is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
No law? No
law against the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are qualities that we should not only desire…but look for, long
for and ask for in our lives. These are the ultimate gifts…well, maybe heaven
and eternal life are the ultimate gifts…but this is a gift of the Spirit that
can be useful to God in our lives now. Paul taught the Galatians more about the
Holy Spirit and our sinful nature in verses just before our scriptural text.
For the whole law can be summed up
in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." But if you are
always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one
another. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be
doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which
is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires
that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are
constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good
intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under
obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians
5:14-18
There it is. When you are directed by the
Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. That is where
Paul explains that there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit.
Think about it. The Ten Commandments, the law of Moses, can be summed up as
loving God and loving our neighbors. The fruit of the Spirit, love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,
actually enhance the commands to love God and our fellowman.
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| Lemons growing on trees in Merces, Portugal near the ConCafe. |
I think it is imperative that we recognize
that we are looking at the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruits of the
Spirit. Although the list includes nine elements, they are produced in our
lives as one fruit. This is the time of year when fruits are beginning
to be harvested. Cherries and raspberries are ripe now—and they are so
wonderful. We can see grapes, apples, peaches and other fruit developing—and it
won’t be long until it is harvest time for those crops, too. But the fruit of
the Spirit can be produced in our lives all year around. Is your heart ready
for the Holy Spirit to bless you with the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience,.kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
Prayer
~ Lord God, You provide so much for us…our family, friends, homes, food, and
clothing,—as well as Your words. May the Holy Spirit guide our lives…our very
thoughts, words and actions that we would live lives pleasing and honoring You.
Give us this day our daily bread—spiritual as well as physical nourishment including
the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Daily
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1-4
© 2019 Text and
photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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