Re:Verse passage – Galatians 5:22-25 (day one) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; vs 22-23a
We know this text well. It is one of the hallmark passages of the New Testament that we learn from a young age, but do we treat the fruit of the spirit like we are ordering from a fast food menu? “I’ll take two joys, a love, and an order of peace. I’m not really a patience or self-control guy” To quote a favorite commercial of mine – that’s not how any of this works.
I am so grateful that God has made each of us as unique, individual beings. But that individuality does not preclude the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. On our own, it is true, we may struggle to be kind or gentle, but that’s the point, isn’t it? God is not looking for people who are gentle to say – look here’s that fruit I was talking about. No, we all have access to the same work of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that we would not be patient without God’s work in our lives is part of what makes it so wonderful. Don’t limit the Spirit’s work in your life today. Seek the full menu.
