But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23
The verses preceding today’s tell us that “the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, division, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21). The devil uses many things to pit one person against another. He also uses the diversity of sin to pit you against God.
However, you don’t have to live that way. Once you have taken on the mantle of faith in Jesus Christ – belief in His saving work of redemption – you are not bound by the ways of evil. Faith in Christ means Christ lives in you, and you can have peace with God. The Holy Spirit resides in you, and you exhibit His fruit as you mature – traits to cherish and cultivate into a harmonious whole.
Paul points out that “you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). This means that the pervasive attachment to sin is dead. You are not a slave to it anymore, but you are alive with the fruit of the Spirit working in you. Jesus bridged the gap between you and God so that the peace of God can flourish in you. Once an enemy, you are now His child. His grace abounds.
The person who does not know Christ as Savior still indulges the divisive fleshly works. Ask the Lord to enable you, and believing leaders of this nation, to be examples of peace in a world of chaos. May the fruit of the Spirit abound in your life.
Today’s Verse: Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
