But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5: 22-23 [NIV]
This week I would like to look at some of the fruits of the spirit and consider how we can see more fruit in our lives, our families, our neighbourhoods and our churches. I especially like the second half of verse 23 where it says “against such things there is not law”. Looking around me, I see faces filled with the opposite of fruit (vegetables??) – one could be forgiven for thinking that smiling was illegal.
How joyful are you today? – on a Monday morning in the second half of January, I can predict that the general public in the UK are not brimming full of joy. There is not much sunlight, the weather is cold and damp, the economic outlook may be as gloomy as the weather forecast, and Christmas is a distant memory. In fact, today is seen by many as “blue Monday” for these reasons. So why be joyful?
I love it when the TV news shows clips of people being reunited with their families when they are freed from kidnap – the recent release of the hostage Peter Moore, kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 reminds me of the joy felt when Terry Waite, John McCarthy and Brian Keenan in 1990-91 (it doesn’t seem like almost 20 years ago!). There is no mistaking the joy experienced by the release from captivity and the welcome from close family.
As a result of Christ’s sacrifice for us, we have freedom from the captivity of sin and the law. Perhaps we have forgotten the joy that goes with this fact; perhaps our joy has been quenched by the draining effects of spiritual warfare, or the general malaise of those around us. We need to ask for more of the Spirit to experience more of the fruit.
Spend some time thanking God for the freedom we can experience every day through Christ. Let the Spirit determine who you are and how you are seen by others. If you are happy and you know it – tell your face!
Lord, fill us with your Spirit afresh today – help us to remember the freedom purchased for us in Christ, and take joy in it. Protect us from the lies Satan would have us believe. Amen.
