Planted by the River of Life

 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in ethe seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1:1-6 ESV).

 

When I was a freshman at Texas A&M University, I was able to participate in the building of the annual bonfire. It required the harvesting of hundreds of trees from land that was donated for the purpose. It took weeks to cut the trees, limb them, and transport them to campus where they would be stacked and wired together for the burn the night before the traditional Thanksgiving game. A part of the “cut” was always the replanting of more than were cut. I didn’t understand the full significance of that until many years later; and, I didn’t recognize the Scriptural reference until I left A&M. It has always been one of the most significant memories of my time in Aggieland. While the bonfire is no longer held on campus it is built and burned off campus. The replant is still a vital part of the effort.

 

The Bible’s message is that God created us in love and has saved us through faith in Jesus, by grace alone. As people saved by grace, we are invited to live the good life that God has designed for us. We live this way not to earn our salvation, but to show our gratitude to God, to grow in faith, and to flourish in the good life God wants for us. God has given us salvation as a free gift, and we gratefully aim to follow God’s law because it’s the best way to live. It’s what we were designed for.

 

Our reading today says that living this good life is like being a tree planted by streams of water. That tree will yield fruit and will not wither, because the tree is living the way it is meant to live, nourished by the water of life given by its creator. So, it is with people. When we are planted and nourished by God’s way of love, we will flourish. Regardless of how long we live or “tall” we grow, our lives are replated in eternity to continue to grow and bear the fruit of the life God has provided. That is real beauty!

 

The Beauty of Jesus' Death

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54 ESV).

 

Perhaps you have read some of the devotionals I’ve written dealing with the “good” of Good Friday. Reading the title of today’s devotional might have even given you pause in thinking about the death of Jesus as being anything but “beautiful”. After all, the Bible affirms life, so how could any death be considered beautiful? Well, Jesus’ death was indeed good and expressed the best of God’s beauty in His grace revealed towards us.

 

In some ways that day was not good at all. We mourn the death of Jesus, and we regret the sin that caused him to die. But in other ways the day was very good indeed. The death of Jesus is good news for the world, because in his death Jesus tore down the barrier between God and sinful humanity. Now we can be united with God because of Jesus’ death. So, we can say that the death of Jesus was beautiful.

 

The book of Matthew adds that at the moment of Jesus’ death, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” That curtain barred the way to the holiest room in the temple. It represented the separation between the holy God and his sinful people. But because of Jesus’ death, the curtain was not needed anymore. People could be united with God again. God loved the world so much that he sent Jesus to die, uniting us with himself again—and that is beautiful!

 

It is no wonder that the guards saw what was happening when Jesus died and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (v. 54). I am compelled to bring us back to the beauty that surrounds us, even in the death of Jesus, and call us to the same declaration as these hardened soldiers. Truly He is the Son of God. We have nothing to fear in this life. We have the absolute unshakeable hope of eternal life guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that allows us to be victorious even over death itself.

  

The Wonder of God's Grace

 

I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put aa new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. (Psalm 40:1-4 ESV).

 

I am always amazed at the penchant for thinking that we are independent. Some independence is a good thing as we can use it to persevere and often discover new things. However, when we act as if we can fix the problem of sin in our lives we will always be confronted with abject failure. Yet, we do that so much of the time. We imagine that if we improve ourselves, we can be free of sin and guilt. We think that if we just work hard enough, our lives will become better. And if our friends and family would just listen to us, our relationships would become better too.

 

But the problem is too big for us. We cannot save ourselves from the problem of our separation from God. We cannot even stop ourselves from sinning. Only God can do that. Our reading today sings praise to the God who saves us. It sings praise to the God who is strong enough to conquer sin and is gracious enough to do that for us. It sings praise to the God who chose not to stay separated from us but came to save us and restore us to himself.

 

This Davidic Psalm sings of a salvation so great that only God could accomplish it. God has loved us in so many ways. The psalmist says to God, “Were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.” The many wonders God has done to save us are beautiful. Our abundant and beautiful salvation comes from God, the only one who can save us. Perhaps it’s time for you to stop merely starting over to only end where you were before. Start new in the grace of God! That is the wonder of God’s grace!

 

Rainy Days and Rainbows

 

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember ethe everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-17 ESV).

 

If the sun is shining while rain is falling, that is often a good time to look for a rainbow. The sunlight shines through water droplets to form a beautiful spectrum of color across the sky. Not long ago I was driving through some of the backroads from our house to town and turned the corner to find an incredible rainbow hanging the fields of wildflowers. The beauty of the rainbow was surprising and spectacular. A rainbow that appears after a storm can bring a hopeful promise of clearer weather ahead.

 

Originally God used the rainbow to give a sign of hope to Noah, and that is a reminder for us still today. After the world was destroyed by a flood because of the people’s sin, God promised never to send such a flood again. God promised not to let sin come between him and his people. The rainbow is a beautiful sign of hope because it is like a bow without arrows, as if hung on a wall after battle, never to be fired again. That reminds us of the promise that God will always love us.

 

When you see a rainbow, you can see it as a part of God’s beautiful creation. You can also see it as a sign of God’s beautiful promise of salvation, a promise God is sure to keep. Regardless of how rainy your day may seem, trust in the beauty God has prepared for you when you arrive at your heavenly home!

 

Faded Beauty

 

As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and wit is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:15-19 ESV).

 

Mary loves fresh flowers. There are times when I find myself looking over the array of fresh flowers and plants at the store trying to pick just the right combination. Bringing them home we immediately trim the stems and place them in water that has been treated with a stabilizer to help them last longer. Inevitably they will begin to fade and droop as the vibrance and beauty of the petals begin to die. I’ve never had fresh cut flowers last more than a week or so. This always seems like such a short time to us!

 

I am reminded that in the grand scope of the universe, human life is also brief. Compared to the age of our planet, a human life of even a hundred years seems short. Our reading today uses the example of flowers in a field to describe how short our life is. These plants are beautiful, but they last for just a season, and some of them bloom for only a day.

 

The same is true for us. Even though our lives have value and beauty, our bodies will eventually die. This can feel frightening to us. It can make us feel insignificant, and it shows us we have no control over the circumstances of our own death or when it will come.

 

But Psalm 103 assures us that we can place our hope in God, who created us and watches over our lives. “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him.” This promised love will last longer than we could imagine. The beauty of our lives will fade, but the beauty of God’s care, protection, and love for us will last forever.

 

Beauty Restored

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. (Psalm 107:1-9 ESV).

 

The iconic piece of artwork, the Mona Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci (also known as portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondomade), has had a growing controversy of whether or not it should be restored due to its 518 years’ worth of weathering. Art historians have been debating this topic with disagreements of whether they should take the risk of ruining the Mona Lisa’s intense history for viewing DaVinci’s original idea of the painting or to keep the Mona Lisa as is.

 

This controversy reminded me of an important truth coming from the restoration that God has done thus far for the beauty of His creation. We ought to recognize that to understand the beauty that God created is to understand its opposite: the ugliness and sorrow of being separated from God. Because of our sin, this world is not the way it ought to be. Sin has brought hardship and ugliness into our lives and into this world, though God designed it all to be beautiful.

 

We know that God has restoration in mind because we don’t feel “at home” in a world broken because of sin. We are homesick for a world of peace and beauty. We are homesick to be with God. When we’re stuck in brokenness and facing the ugliness of this world of sin, we feel homesick for God’s world of goodness and beauty. Our reading today points out the sorrow and longing of this homesickness. The world can feel like a wasteland, providing no place where people can rest, no place where they can settle and be at peace. But the Lord, whose “love endures forever,” offers redemption. The Lord hears his people cry out in their trouble caused by sin, and he delivers them from distress. God brings them to a place where they can settle and live in peace. “He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Ultimately, we know that all of life’s goodness and beauty will be restored when Jesus comes again, and the new life he provides us even now gives us hope for eternity with God.

The Tapestries of Life

 

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:4-11 ESV).

 

In a poem, Corrie Ten Boom compares her life to a tapestry woven by God. She says that God weaves both joy and sorrow into her life, and it is as though she sees only the back of the tapestry. She says she cannot understand how the strands could ever make something beautiful. But God understands and has a plan for how everything in her life will come together for his beautiful purpose. She goes on to say that it is only in heaven that we will see the finished side of the tapestry and experience the beauty God has created in our lives.

 

Job, to whom God is speaking in our reading today, is a bit like that. Seeing only the back of the tapestry of his life, he has many questions about the fairness of God’s dealing with him. Job has had to deal with terrible suffering and tragedy, and he does not understand why it all happened. God responds with a poetic speech about the creation of the world. God is the one who created everything, including things that are so mysterious that we don’t even know how to speak about them. God reminds Job of this to both challenge and assure him. God challenges Job to be humble about his own knowledge. And God assures Job that he has a plan, even though it may be hard to understand.

 

I find myself in the same position more of the time than not. There are many things about God’s purposes that I simply do not understand. What I can understand is the unfailing promise of God to provide for me and for the world he has beautifully made. That knowledge, as little as it may be, is the root of faith which ultimately brings hope and peace to bear in my life. Let it do the same in yours.

 

Beautiful in Every Way

 

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (Psalm 139:13-18 ESV).

 

It’s easy for us to think that we lack beauty. For example, you may feel that you don’t meet the beauty standards set by the world today. If you don’t look like a fashion model, maybe you feel less beautiful than others. Or you may feel that your life doesn’t meet the standards of a beautiful life. Maybe you have made mistakes in the past that you continue to regret. Perhaps your family and professional life haven’t turned out the way you had hoped. Or you may have habits and behavior that you aren’t proud of. You may also feel that you don’t have much internal beauty either. But God has something different to say.

 

In our reading today from Psalm 139, God assures us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” God’s creative power was at work not just in forming galaxies at the beginning of time, but also in forming each unique part of you. God made you beautiful.

 

Psalm 139 assures us that the God who formed us before we were born is still intimately involved in our lives. The God who made you beautiful at the beginning continues to show you grace and to restore you to beauty every day. By God’s grace, you are not defined by the mistakes you have made or the ugly parts of your life. You are defined by the love of the God who created you in beauty.

 

Remember His promise to us is that all of this will work together for our good (cf. Romans 8:28). What a wonder of grace He is!

 

His Immeasurable Variety

 

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:1-4; 24 ESV).

 

Tyler, Texas is said to be the Rose Capital of Texas. That is due in part to the perfect conditions of soil, water, and temperature to grow roses. The original Tyler Rose does not produce an especially fragrant or beautiful flower; however, the root itself is especially hardy and has become the foundation for grafting some of the most beautiful and fragrant roses. Visting the Rose Garden (pictured here) is an incredible experience.

 

This vast diversity is a beautiful part of God’s creation, as Psalm 104 shows. In his wisdom God made so many different animals and plants that we haven’t been able to count them all. And in his wisdom God made many different cultures and people as well. This psalm uses poetry to talk about the powerful and beautiful way God made the world. It invites us to praise God for such diverse beauty and for creating the world in the best way possible.

 

Each of us brings our own type of beauty to the world. Every flowering plant has a different shade of color with unique scents. He combines them all weaving all of them to provide a limitless array of spectacular beauty. It is just another way that He demonstrates His love of creation. The diversity of this beauty should awaken in us a new appreciation of how much He cares for us. Jesus said it this way:

 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious. (Matthew 6:28-31 ESV).

 

Trust your Creator… praise His glorious work!

 

It Was Very Good

 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27-31 ESV).

 

Ethel Waters, the iconic vocalist, originated the quote, “I am somebody cause God don’t make no junk!” I remember hearing her sing at the Billy Graham Crusade we were a part of in Tyler, Texas in the early 70’s. She sang her signature song, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” It was my first experience with mass evangelism and couldn’t have been better. Her brief testimony before her solo performance was amazing as she reiterated her worth by simply pointing to God.

 

When our reading speaks of God creating the heavens and the earth, it does so by describing a pattern of six days. And several times in the process we read, “God saw that it was good.” God took joy and satisfaction in the things he created. God saw that the world was good and beautiful. God made the world to be beautiful: the light, the sky, the land, the sun, the fish, the animals. God called all of these things “good.” And when God created human beings, God created them in his own image. Men and women are all created in the image of God, beautiful like their creator.

 

If you are ever tempted to doubt your own worth as a person, remember that the creator of the universe made you in his own image. Remember that God looks on his beautiful creation, including you, and calls you “good” and beautiful. If you are ever tempted to think of others as somehow “less than”, remember they too are God’s perfect work and seen as “very good.” Knowing the worth of others as God values them as His creation ought to make a difference in how we conduct ourselves toward them. Our differences should never make us devalue others. These are the things that ought to cause us to glorify our mutual Creator!

 

The Declaration of Creation

 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. (Psalm 19:1-6 ESV).

 

Ennis, Texas is one of the great places to see Texas bluebonnets in the spring. One location along the Bluebonnet Trail is nestled near the lake. As you can see from the picture I’ve attached, sunset makes the view spectacular. As true as this is there are so many places across our world that showcase God’s creation it would be difficult to single one out as the “best.” Whether you prefer mountains, or beaches there are some incredible places to just witness God’s creative majesty.

 

Our reading today shows that we can learn about God’s glory through nature. It says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Another way to put it, according to this psalm, is that “the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” This is a strange and poetic picture. The sky can’t talk! The psalm acknowledges: “They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them” (v. 3). And yet the sky, by its simple, beautiful existence, communicates to the world about God, its creator.

 

God has created a beautiful world. This world, simply by being what God created it to be, gives voice to the beauty of God himself. People can glorify God with their words, by loving each other and themselves, and by caring for the world that God loves. The sky uses its clouds, rainbows, and shades of gray and blue to tell about the glory of God. In the next few days I’ll be writing about this great glory. I hope you will think of all that we can do as we use our words and even our whole life to share about the glory of our great God! Creation praises God in the highest. Dare we do less?

 

Juneteenth

 

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:31-36).

 

Perhaps you aren’t aware of the history of today’s holiday, Juneteenth (June 19^th). It is a federal holiday in the United States celebrating the liberation of enslaved African Americans in Texas in 1865. Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but it was not implemented in places still under Confederate control, and because Texas, being on the westernmost edge of the Confederacy, was farthest from the military action of the Civil War, many people were still enslaved, as there were no soldiers there to enforce the executive decree. But when Union troops, both white and Black, arrived in Galveston Bay on June 19, 1865, two months after the official end of the war, they saw to it by threat of force that the 250,000-plus enslaved Black people in the state were freed. Thus the date began to be celebrated.

 

There is a greater battle that took place for the freedom of mankind almost 2,000 years ago. Our reading today comes from the Gospel of John where Jesus is teaching some of the Jews who had come to believe in Him. They were confused by His statement that they were free in Him. Being proud of their heritage they asserted they had never been enslaved, even though the Romans had taken their land and freedoms from them many years earlier. Before the Romans there were the Greeks, and before them the Babylonians, and even before them the Assyrians. They hadn’t known personal freedom for many centuries. Yet, they claimed to be free.

 

Their tragic mistake has been repeated many times over. We cannot accept political freedom as if that were the ultimate gift. Real freedom can only come from the Son, Jesus Christ. Thank God for His amazing grace! Thank God for His gift of eternal freedom in His Son!

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 9

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

Today we come to the end of our reflections on the fruit of the Spirit. The final characteristic the Apostle Paul gives us is “self-control.” In the apostle’s discussion here, we can see that self-control is very important for helping us turn away from “the desires of the flesh.” But we may wonder, How can we actually practice self-control? How can we turn away from all the sins and “actions of the flesh” that are listed here? Are we strong enough to control our sinful desires on our own? Of course, the answer is no. In order to achieve a measure of self-control we need the power of God the Holy Spirit to guide us.

 

The self-control that Paul is talking about is not accomplished by the power of our old, sinful self. It can only be accomplished in the power of the new self that we receive through the finished work of Jesus Christ begun as we are born again and continued throughout our sanctification. It is a journey that often requires some hard lessons of discipleship. It always requires our dependence on the grace of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

 

With the new life of the Spirit in us, we have a new self that is led by the Spirit. And because we are led by the Spirit, we can “keep in step with the Spirit.” Like a tree or a vine with the life of the Spirit in us, we can bear “the fruit of the Spirit” such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

 

I am well aware of the great challenge presented by this list of characteristics to be desired and practiced. I am also well acquainted with the high bar it is to overcome our natural inclinations of the flesh choosing the opposite of these in our behavior toward people and circumstances that are difficult. Please be encouraged by the truth that you are not alone in your effort. Let us pray for one another as we become more like Him in all that we do.

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 8

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

Gentleness is probably the least-talked-about fruit of the Spirit. And even though it is often overlooked, it is one of the most important character traits of people who live by the Spirit. In the Bible, gentleness is also called meekness, and it is a prominent virtue in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches us, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

 

Our world today does not value gentleness. Instead, we are loud, boisterous, rowdy, showy, obnoxious, and pushy. One commentator described our culture in North America as “restless, rootless, and ruthless.” Gentleness is the opposite of these. Gentle folks are not restless but calm and composed, not rootless but stable, not ruthless but respectful. Biblical synonyms for the word gentle include humble, meek, considerate, courteous, respectful, and noble.

 

We tend to categorize gentle people as weak. But gentleness is the result of bringing great strength under control. In a biblical sense, the strongest people are those who dare to be gentle. And the best example to guide us is Jesus.

 

Jesus calls out, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). To be gentle or meek is to be God-molded, Christ-shaped, and Holy Spirit-directed. Ask the Spirit for an extra measure of gentleness today.

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 7

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

The next fruit of the Spirit is “faithfulness”. Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyal to someone or something and putting that loyalty into consistent practice regardless of extenuating circumstances. It is the characteristic of everyone who tends to be successful in any area of life. It is one of the traits that builds deep respect from others. It is the most important quality in any relationship, especially marriage. It is given to us by the Holy Spirit.

 

Faithfulness is a valuable commodity in every walk of life: in the family, business, friendship, and church. Yet, tragically, faithfulness is something we are not always good at. We make resolutions and soon give up on them. We fail to follow through even if we are determined to make a change. It’s hard to be faithful on our own. We need the help of the Spirit of God, who is always faithful.

 

In Hebrews 11 we find many examples of people who had faith in God and who faithfully believed in God’s promises. Their lives were examples of faithfulness. They knew that they depended on God for everything, and they saw that God faithfully provided for them, even if some of God’s promises were not fulfilled by the time they died.

 

If you are a person of faith, God calls you to be a person of faithfulness. That is life in the Spirit. The Lord, who is faithful, promises to give us all the faithfulness we need.

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 6

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

The fruit of goodness arises from the amazing grace of God. It seeks to help and to right wrongs where it can, providing benefits to others and leading them to give thanks and praise to God (cf. Matthew 5:16).

 

We are introduced to a woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) “was always doing good and helping the poor” (cf. Acts 10). She was best known for her many acts of goodness. As we see in the Scripture, when she suddenly became sick and died, the apostle Peter asked God to bring her back to life. God did raise her from the dead. Her many acts of goodness resulted in many people believing in the Lord. Sometimes the best sermons are preached through our action towards others.

 

We see others in the Scripture who lived lives of goodness. Barnabas, who gave generously to the church and helped Paul (Saul) when he needed a friend, “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (cf. Acts 11:24; Acts 4:36-37; 9:27-28). Cornelius, one of the first Gentiles (non-Jews) to believe in Jesus, was already “devout and God-fearing,” and “he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (cf. Acts 10:2). God sent him a vision, telling him to invite Peter to his house. God also sent Peter a vision, telling him to go and visit Cornelius. So, Peter did that, and he shared the good news of Jesus with Cornelius and with a crowd of people who had gathered at his house. And all the people there received the gift of the Holy Spirit that day and were baptized (cf. Acts 10).

 

Goodness is often accompanied with kindness; however, it is a bit different. It is the act of being good, doing the right thing at the right time. Both of these characteristics are certainly in short supply in our day of polarization and division centered around personal goals and deception. Be kind… and be good!

 

Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 5

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

The fifth fruit of the Spirit is “kindness.” Jesus spoke to this with a parable in Luke’s gospel:

 

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30-37 ESV).

 

Kindness meets the needs of people in concrete ways. A kind driver stops along the roadside to help someone change a flat tire. A kind neighbor will reach out to babysit when the family across the street must rush one of their children to the emergency room. A kind motorist or pedestrian will help to give you directions in an unfamiliar town. Kindness is the merciful action of a loving heart.

 

But some people refuse to reach out and show kindness. In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, a priest saw the man lying beaten along the road and passed by on the other side. A Levite did the same thing. But a Samaritan who came along helped the beaten man even though he was despised as an enemy. He acted as a neighbor because he showed mercy to the man in need. He was kind. I know wisdom must intercede in some situations where kindness and help might be used; however, I also believe that kindness is the world’s greatest unused capital. A veritable gold mine of kindness lies buried within us, just waiting to be let out when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Look for those people God brings into your path that you might show them a kindness today.

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 4

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

The fourth “fruit of the Spirit” that the apostle Paul lists is “patience.” There are many other references in the Scripture to the necessity of this trait in the believer’s life. And, Jesus’ example during His three years of ministry underscores the same truth. The brother of Jesus, James, had a great deal to say about it as well:

 

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord mis at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (James 5:7-9 ESV).

 

It is a virtue that goes beyond the ability to await some future gain and involves more than the rest or peace of the soul that trusts in God's perfect timing. Patience is a vital part of the process that enables God to work over a long span of time, if needed, to produce in us other important aspects of His image so that we "may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." We cannot be patient on our own if we just try harder, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. We cannot be patient on our own if we just try harder.

 

The question then becomes, how do we be patient. The first answer is to trust in the work of Christ in our lives. Regardless of the circumstances and trials, that trust leads us to believe that the end of it all is our good (cf. Romans 8:28). However, I’ve found that a conviction that this world is indeed fallen and it is not our home also builds patience in us. As believers we know we are merely pilgrims passing through this world to a perfect, eternal home God is preparing for each of us. The Holy Spirit gives us this gift and His work in our lives perfects it through ever experience, good or bad. Trust Him!

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 3

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-25 ESV).

 

Flower Power is an historic photograph taken by photographer Bernie Boston for the now-defunct Washington Star. It was nominated for the 1967 Pulitzer Prize. Taken on October 21, 1967, during a march to the Pentagon, the iconic photo shows a young, long-haired Vietnam protestor in a turtleneck sweater, placing carnations into the barrel of a rifle of a National Guardsman. The picture here is a recreation of that moment for the documentary later done commemorating the event.

 

This reminds me of the third listing of the fruit of the Spirit in our reading today. The 20th century could be described as a desperate search for peace. World War I was called “the war to end all wars,” but soon a second, bigger World War followed. During the Viet Nam War of the 1960s flower children stuffed carnations into soldiers’ gun barrels while protesting “peace, peace” In the 1970s youths gave up their militancy and sought peace in “inner feelings.” In the 1980s and ’90s the cry was “peace through prosperity.” Younger members of that generation chased after peace by accumulating wealth and pursuing upward mobility. Even now, as wars have continued to rage in our 21^st Century World, most people simply do not know where to look to find the peace they crave.

 

It is only when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives that we may discover true peace. The biblical term for peace is shalom, a greeting still used in the Middle East today. Shalom refers to a blessing that includes peace with God, personal happiness and flourishing, reconciled relationships, and harmony in society. And Jesus has made all this possible through his life, death, and resurrection for our sake.

 

The peace of the Spirit also opens our eyes to injustice and urges us to work against the inequities of our culture. Just as fallen humans wage war with all of their ability and tenacity, Christians ought to wage peace with similar vigor and strategy. When we live in the Spirit, we maintain our unity in Christ through the bond of peace that he bought for us.

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 2

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26 ESV).

 

There have been a few times when I have been asked if I was a preacher. My initial response usually is “Do I look that ill?” It usually elicits a chuckle and a quick apology, though serious response puts them at ease when I admit to being a minister and apologize if I seemed a bit too serious. Sadly, many religions lack an emphasis on joy, but there should be no doubt that Christians appreciate humor, laughter, and joy. Why? Because God himself is joyful. The second fruit of the Spirit is joy.

 

In Nehemiah 8:10 we are re­minded, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” And I love the description of God in Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord . . . will take great delight in you . . . [and] will rejoice over you with singing.” Can you picture God singing for joy as he thinks about you and me?

 

Certainly, the culmination of joy is the coming of Jesus. At Jesus’ birth the angel of the Lord proclaims, “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Christ’s coming to bring salvation has brought exuberant joy into the world. The Holy Spirit, who lives in us, makes the joy of God and Jesus our own. There is no longer any need to search for joy. The Christian can say, “I have found it!”

 

Sadly, when we find ourselves in the depths of gloom, often with good reason, we often surrender to the temptation to shout at the wind and shake our fist at the storm. Perhaps there is much more to the common wisdom of dancing in the rain than we would at first recognize. The Holy Spirit completes the mission of Jesus to give us life and that abundantly (cf. John 10:10).

 

Make it your goal to focus on the joy of the promise of God!

 

The Fruit of the Spirit - Pt. 1

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26 ESV).

 

For the next several days we will focus on the fruit of the Spirit found in our reading today. The first, foundational fruit mentioned here is love. The core teaching of the Bible is love. Love is at the center of God’s character and all that God is and does. And when we come to believe in God—trusting in his amazing love for us through the life and work of Jesus and by the power of the Spirit—we begin to live by God’s love, because God comes to live in us (cf. Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:16).

 

The parable found in Luke’s Gospel (cf. Luke 15) is often called “The Lost Son” or “The Prodigal Son,” but a more fitting title is “The Loving Father.” The father in this story shows his love by not attempting to control his son’s behavior, even though it surely broke his heart. Love always sets free. God does give us the power of choice once we are born again. Some of the time we choose wrongly. His love then seeks to turn us back in the direction of life.

 

Love also moves in the direction of people. When the son returns, the father does not hold back but runs to greet his son. Love is affectionate. The father throws his arms around his son and kisses him. Saying “I love you” always involves more than words. Love does not allow apathy and indifference to choke out warmth and affection.

 

Love is reconciling. The father’s relationship with his son is more important than anything his son has done. Love does not allow the weed of strife to choke out a relationship. The father even calls for a celebration. This is the example given to us in our relationships. It does take both parties to desire reconciliation, but the power to restore is a part of the fruit born in us by the Holy Spirit.

 

Reconsider how you are using this gift in your relationships. Find ways to love others as Jesus did.