But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:22-26).
Today’s Morsel: The three bears returned to their house and noticed that someone had been eating their porridge. Mama bear must have been a very good cook for Goldilocks to eat all of Baby Bear's porridge. What are people eating from you? Is your tree full of spiritual fruit, or have you allowed temptations to dry up your roots so that you aren’t producing any fruit? Have you allowed the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world to choke the Word from you? Paul says that there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the flesh has a law against it. And that law is that they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). How well do you understand the fruit of the Spirit? Do you know what Love is? Love is time. Time with God and time with those you care the most about. Do you know what Joy is? It’s self-esteem. It’s keeping yourself motivated. Do you know what Peace is? Peace is when all hell breaks loose in your life and anything that can go wrong has and is going wrong, but yet you can still see God working on your behalf and for your good and you can say as Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Do you know what Meekness is? It’s unselfishness. It’s placing others and the mission ahead of yourself. It’s keeping yourself humble and in check, when you really just want to reach out and touch somebody. Do you know what Long-suffering is? It’s maintaining your patience when someone rains on your parade. Do you know what Faith is? Faith is that shove you receive to push you onward to your hope. Do you know what Goodness is? Goodness is possessing an abundance of good things within yourself that you can share with others. It’s that fruit that’s driven by being kind one toward another, tenderheartedness, and forgiving others. Do you know what Gentleness is? Gentleness is being able to rub over one's sores, bruises, and hurts, and not cause the other person to feel you’re rubbing them. Do you know what Temperance is? Temperance is maintaining your self-control when there’s a sale on and everyone is rushing and pushing trying to get through the door all at the same time.
When we look at the fruit of the Spirit, it’s Christ operating in your life affecting others. How's your spiritual tree today?
Sing: To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, on earth I long to be like Him, all through life’s journey, from earth to glory, I only ask to be like Him.
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