Day Fourteen
Galatians 5: 22 - 24
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentlesness and self-control; no law can touch such things as these. All who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified self with all its passions and its desires.
Reflection
Every fruit tree should bear good fruit or it is not fulfilling its purpose. Every Christian is meant to bear good spiritual fruit for the kingdom of God, not only in eternity but also here and now on earth. The first fruit listed in the Scriptures is love because it is the most important one of them all. From love flow joy, peace, patience, etc...
True love enables us victory over self with our sinful passions and desires. We have been crucified with Christ, that act of supreme love on His part and the part of His Father, in union with the Spirit, for our salvation. We "belong" not to ourselves but to Christ, and so our lives should reflect whom we belong to. Our modern world exalts the self so much that it can be difficult to resist giving in at times, but it is possible with prayer and obedience to the word of God and union with our brothers and sisters in the church. Let's bear good fruit today!
Prayer
O Jesus, help me to bear good fruit, fruit that will last. May I carry my cross, deny myself, and follow wherever you lead me. Just as fruit takes time to grow, help me to be patient with myself and others as you develop a godly character in us.
Amen.
