"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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
I love this passage of scripture and for some reason God keeps bringing it to my attention lately! So, when told I was to teach Sunday school tomorrow, I knew what on! Not only is this something that I personally am working on, but am also going to let God speak these words through me into our youth.
Love...such a powerful word, if only we could learn to love the people of this world, in the same way that Christ loved us, imagine what an amazing testimony for Christ we could be. Not only loving our family and friends...but the smelly guy in front of us in the grocery store or the woman who cuts us off when we are in a hurry. What if we learn to love EVERYONE around with Christ's love?
Joy...waking up knowing that it will be an amazing day, not based on the fact that the sun is shining or everything is going according to our plan, but because we know that we serve such an awesome God, that we can't help but overflow with HIS joy!
Peace...that sense that whether things are good or if they are bad knowing that He is right there and has a plan, so we need not worry or freak out, cause it is all part of His master plan!
Patience...what a hard one this is for me!...some once encouraged me to pick the longest line at the grocery store, or the longest line at the red light...let God teach us patience, cause it is something that we all need, whether it is patience with our siblings or parents, or patience waiting for God to bring the "RIGHT" one into our lives, or patience as you try to figure out what God's plan is for the rest of your life.
Kindness and Goodness...go hand in hand...they tie into loving people...just being genuinely KIND to someone and doing GOOD towards them...not because it is in your job description or because your Mother always told you to be nice and treat others kindly, but because you truly want to live as Christ lived and treat everyone as He did!
Faithfulness...being faithful to Christ, but also to your family and friends, not back-stabbing and gossiping, but being a good and faithful friend, being there when they are in need and sharing in their good times with them!
Gentleness...a form of humility, putting others needs before your own and treating others with the utmost respect. Correcting each other in Christ in a way that shows respect and dignity and not tearing each other apart.
Self-Control...not giving into the things of this world...sex, drugs, stealing, lying, hatred...but allowing yourself to be led by the spirit and not but yourself.
Just some of my thoughts on this passage...I personally am working on patience and joy! Finding the patience to wait for God's timing on things in my life! And finding Joy in my everyday mundane situations...in the work place and at home, cause God has created me perfect, why should I be anything less than joyful to Him and everything and everyone He has created!!
Feel free to leave your thoughts or opinions, I am far from an expert on passages such as these, I just speak as the Lord leads!
