July 19, 2019 -- Galatians 5:22-24

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:22-24 ESV

This is a rather well-known portion of Galatians. It is easy to lift it from its context and miss the weight of what is being said. Paul had just written a really harsh letter, bawling out the Galatians for what seems to be their bewitchment at the teachings of heretics and then quickly abandoning their sure faith in Jesus. He was calling them to account. He wants them to examine their foolish ways and return to Jesus.

I am reminded of the fact that the fruit of the Spirit, those nine attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control come to fruition in the believer through hardship. One must beat down the passions of the flesh, ignore contrary teachings denying the faith and resist the urgings and temptations peers constantly throw about.

We are funny people. On the one hand we can get enraged if we have to stand in line at the bank or grocery store for what we think is too long a wait. We want preferential treatment. On the other hand, if we see someone else getting preferential treatment, perhaps going to the front of the line the very line we have been standing in for the past ten minutes, we can begin to fume and wonder: “what’s so special about that person?!”

The fruit of the Spirit develops and matures under conditions where there is hardship and ease. Think of regular fruit what it requires and it endures. Fruit grows with sunshine and needs rain. However hard rains and storms that threaten it. Ripening fruit endures high winds and insect predations or drought conditions. For believers, the fruit of the Spirit is both the gift of God and it matures as the believer exercises his or her faith in each and every circumstance of life. An immature tree produces only a little fruit, appropriate to its age. A mature tree has a strong root system and the ability to produce much fruit. As we show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, God is honoured and glorified, and the people around us marvel that we have characteristics which are evidence of the grace of God.

Jesus, we need more and more of Your grace as we navigate the ordinary circumstances of our lives. We are easily pricked to reactions that are disproportionate to the wrong we perceive has been done against us. Thank You for the fruit of Your Spirit growing within us. Spirit of God, by Your presence in us, direct our living so that we walk in step with Jesus in the light of sacred Scripture. Spirit of God, forgive us for the times we do not exercise the fruit of faith You give us. Spirit of Comfort and Power, there are many believers around the globe who have much greater trials as they face great persecution for their faith at the hands of their government, their employers, and even their own families. Aid them in our precious faith so that they will mature in the fruit of the Spirit to the glory of Jesus and the honour and credit of God’s Name. Even so, increase our faith and our maturity also that in all things God our Father is blessed and honoured and Jesus Christ will reap the harvest which exalts His sacrifice and His victory. Amen.