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The One Fruit of the Spirit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Gal. 5:22-23
Have you ever noticed that the fruit of the Spirit is singular? There is only one. How can that be, granted that there are nine qualities listed? The answer is simple: every single one of those qualities are produced in the life of the Spirit-led individual. If your life is bearing some of the qualities but not all, then you are being led partly by the flesh and partly by the Spirit. Your life is missing something God wants you to have because you are only bearing part of the fruit of the Spirit. Ask yourself whether you are neglecting one or more of the nine qualities in your daily life—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—and pray today for God to help you produce the entire fruit of the Spirit.
Focus On This
"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." –Col. 3:2
This verse means more than to think about Heaven once in awhile; it means to keep heaven ever before you as your ultimate goal and top priority over the anything this world has to offer. Simply because heaven is intangible doesn’t make it any less real than the “things on the earth.” The fact is, heaven is more real than anything we experience here with our senses. Being with Christ above is the true reality, the only reality that ultimately matters. This earth is just a facade, a temporary testing ground that promises everything but delivers nothing. Therefore raise the eyes of your heart toward the only real, lasting treasure in heaven above.
Let There Be Light
"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." -Gen. 1:3
Our God is a God of light. Creation was the first time God issued forth light in order to dispel darkness but not the last. Throughout history He has illumined His children with spiritual light, providing His word as a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path (Psa. 119:105). He sent forth His Son as the Light of men (John 1:4), and God Himself is our light and our salvation (Psa. 27:1). Therefore, we should walk as children of light (Eph. 5:8) so that we might shine as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15). Praise God for always speaking light into existence. Without His light, we would be lost and blind, directionless and despairing. With His light, the path to salvation is clear and, as a result, our faces radiate with the hope of the glory of the Lord, whom we will have for an everlasting light (Isa. 60:9).
