Listen

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the self with its passions and its desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-25

Think

Several years ago, I was traveling in Croatia and my group arrived at our host home late in the evening. I remembered walking under a grove of trees and noting how the guest house was surrounded by them. The next morning I awoke to discover our accommodations were surrounded by fruit and olive trees. It was a beautiful sight. (The fruit also made a yummy breakfast!)

In the darkness of night all I saw were trees. However, in the light of day I saw the fruit. It was then I realized what those trees were. I knew because I could see the fruit.

Today’s passage mentions the fruit of the Spirit. When we are living a life seeking to be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit, the “fruit” is what grows out of our lives.

Just like we knew what the trees were because of the fruit we saw, others will know we are Christians by the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Dale Tadlock

Pray

Jesus, help me today to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life.

As I do this, may my life reflect you more with the fruit that others see.

May my life be overflowing today with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Amen

Go

We are travelers on a journey
Fellow pilgrims on the road
We are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you
in the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

Richard Gillard in “The Servant Song” (1977)