Verse of the day: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Today we continue looking at the fruit of the Spirit and what it should look like in our lives as we represent the Lord in the way we deal with others, and what our life looks like before God. The next fruit listed is that of faithfulness. We know that without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6), but here the Apostle Paul is speaking of our fidelity in keeping promises. As God’s children we should be known as people who keep our word. In other words, when we make a promise, we keep it. It is sad when a Christian has a reputation for not being trustworthy. We should be the people that others look to, and depend on, because of our steadfastness in following through on the things we say we will do. Regardless of what role we are in, husband, father, son, co-worker, friend, or neighbor, we should be seen as someone to be counted on. This not only applies to our commitments to people, but especially to our commitments to God. For this reason, we must be careful about the promises we make. If there is some doubt as to whether or not we will be able to carry out a task, we should express that rather than say that we can, knowing that we may not be able to or not really want to. The Apostle then lists gentleness as the next fruit. Gentleness (meekness), when it takes root, produces peace. We are told that as much as lies within us we are to be at peace with others. When we are meek we see no need to prove that we are not a pushover. Jesus had the ability to keep from being taken into custody, beaten and crucified; yet, in obedience to His Father, He submitted in meekness and humility (Matt 26:52-54). Because He was meek, He was able to endure being wronged. So we too, when we allow the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of gentleness in us, will be able to endure being wronged without lashing out or seeking vengeance. Insults will roll off like water off of a duck’s back. Gentleness (meekness) helps us to grow “thick skin” so that we are not so easily offended in a world that is corrupt and by its nature is offensive. Sadly, too many of God’s children react much like the world (with inappropriate language and behavior) when we see or hear that which is offensive; which the world sees as acceptable. Instead of lashing out when we see what is happening around us, why not pray for the salvation of those we see on the road to eternal condemnation? Why not see them through the eyes of compassion, seeing that they are lost and need the Savior? Why not do our part to live righteously and honestly so that that Lord will open doors for us to share the Gospel, trusting Him to take care of the injustices that are committed toward us? Why lash out verbally or physically and ruin our testimony simply because someone mocked our faith or ridiculed us because we chose to do right? We need to be reminded that for each time we endure persecution, God sees it and will reward us. Therefore, our response, if we are meek, will be rejoicing (inwardly) because we have been honored to suffer as our Savior suffered (Matt 5:11-13; Phil 3:9-11). As a result, our inward rejoicing will manifest itself as joy and peace outwardly. The last fruit listed is self-control. To have self-control is to have an inner strength that keeps us from giving in to the passions that are often aroused within us (1 Cor 9:27; 1 Thess 4:3-8). We live in a society that does all it can to arouse our ungodly passions. This is the reason we must be diligent to renew our minds and not conform to the ways of this world (Rom 12:1-2). We must guard our hearts and minds by guarding what we allow our eyes and ears to be continually exposed to. The bottom line is that we ought not to be known for being people who cannot keep their passions under control. It is often a lack of self-control that will cause us to seem as hypocrites when we preach to others about what they should not do; yet, we cannot keep our own sinful passions in check. There exists no law that will condemn such behavior, as listed in these verses. When we love, as God loves, we will give room to the Holy Spirit to produce and grow all the fruit listed in these two verses. In doing so, we fulfill the whole law, in Christ, in that the law itself is fulfilled by loving God with all our being, and our neighbor as ourselves (Gal 5:14).
God demonstrated true love toward us when He gave His only begotten Son for us (John 3:16). His desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?
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