Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The boys have been learning about the Fruits of the Spirit in Sunday school. It’s been wonderful listening to them rattle them off – it’s sinking in!! It’s also gotten me to thinking about what living a spirit-filled life LOOKS LIKE. What the world sees on the outside when God changes us on the inside. It’s not self-righteousness. Not condemnation. We shouldn’t become more stern, laugh less, have less patience with those around us because they aren’t living up to God’s standards. We are more acutely aware of ALL of that as we grow closer to God. That is true. But instead, as we truly become more in tune to how often we as humans fail our loving God – a fact that should rightly strike us with guilt – He grants us the grace to face that realization with JOY. And HOPE. Yes, we’re all sinners. Yes, this world is going astray. We know that – it’s been the way of humankind since Adam and Eve. We are frail, and weak, and make mistakes. But through God’s grace, as we grow ever mindful of these facts, the Spirit blesses us. Because through our darkness, we see the hope that the Light brings, and we rejoice in that! Thank God! There is a way out! And that faith, that hope in salvation, causes a blossoming, not a shriveling, inside of us. The fruit of that hope is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. THAT is what we need to portray to the world as Christians. We need to let the Spirit shine through us. Let us not portray ourselves as self-righteous, judgemental. We recognize evil, we call it for what it is, but our response is not one of condemnation, but LOVE. Because that is what Christ offers us. ALL of us, if we only accept that gift. And if we let the Spirit shine through our lives, those in darkness will flock to it like moths to a flame. We are called the share the Light with all. May the fruits of the Spirit in our lives be a beacon.