Series: Blessed Be
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
I Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
Romans 15:13 ESV
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Psalm 37:7 ESV
Romans 12:12 ESV
Colossians 3:12 ESV
Ephesians 4:2 ESV
Psalm 84:11 ESV
Romans 8:28 ESV
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Timothy 2:13 ESV
Titus 3:2 ESV
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
The Apostle Paul’s words from and about the Spirit of God have always been very special to me. I love it that he made the fruit come to life!
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
It’s no surprise that Paul began with love. Paul understood that life began with love and love holds all things together.
We are told in I Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Next Paul helped us to understand joy.
In Romans 15:13 Paul explained this kind of joy is not based on happiness from this world. The joy of the Spirit is a gift from God: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Next, Paul made it clear that at all times and in all places when we turn to God we can receive the peace of God.
In Philippians 4:6-7 Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We need to understand that separating ourselves from the chaos of this world from time to time can help to relieve our anxiety so we are able to receive God’s peace.
When we think of psalmist wrote in Psalm 37:7, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
As we ask and wait for patience we are learning about patience.
Paul wrote in Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
And in Colossians 3:12 we are told that patience isn’t something we make ourselves “do”. Patience is something we receive from God. “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
It’s the same with kindness. While it may look like kindness is easy for some, that could be because they went to God and asked for kindness.
In Ephesians 4:2 Paul wrote, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Allowing yourself to be tender-hearted and see another point of view by choosing to forgive even when you do not feel like forgiving is a choice.
Forgiveness is not a feeling. It’s simple a choice we make to forgive. Once we speak the words of forgiveness, the Spirit steps in the help us.
The Psalm writer wrote about goodness in Psalm 84:11 saying, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
The Apostle Paul put it this way in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Then in Romans 12:2 we are reminded to let God renew our minds “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
On Faithfulness Paul wrote to his young friend in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”
God remains ever faithful to us even when we are not faithful.
Paul wrote difficult words about gentleness to Titus and we find them in Titus 3:2, “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
Notice he didn’t say don’t just speak evil only to good people. He said do not speak evil to anyone and we need to be gentle and courteous to everyone. That can be difficult when someone treats you badly.
When that happens, I ask God to remind me to be kind and to give me a gentle courteous heart in that moment.
Last on Paul’s list is focused on self-control. In 2 Timothy 1:7 we are promised, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
We are promised power.
We are given love.
And finally, when God is allowed to be in control, God will grant us self-control.
We need to know none of that comes easily. We do not have the power to accomplish the characteristics of God on our own.
But when we trust God, turn to God, and ask, God will not fail us.
Spiritual Practice: Choose one
Pray and choose one characteristic to apply to a situation in your life. Trust God for help.
In God, Deborah
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