The fruit of the Spirit

13 January 

Scripture Reading

Read Galatians 5:16-26 and reflect on the passage.

I’m in a wide expanse of darkness. A light shines down. With every step, the light moves with me and provides sustenance necessary for the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to bloom as flowers around me. Brilliant colors rise up from thistles threatening to ensnare, but too weak to overcome the power I possess in this light. 

Sometimes I peek at shadows lurking in the darkness, and take a step out of the light to get a better look. It’s there that I’m burdened by the conflict of what the Spirit and my sinful nature desire. Afraid and lonely, I panic at what I might run into in the dark. By grace, I step back into the light’s embrace. The longer I spend here, the harder it is to see the shadows in the darkness, and the less I want to.

I used to view the fruits of the Spirit as a source of striving—I’m not worthy if I don’t possess and reflect them by my own efforts. Now I realize that they aren’t markers by which my faith is being graded, but gifts, stemming from the surrender of letting the Holy Spirit guide my life.

The expanse of darkness that once surrounded me dissipates into a distant memory, and the promise of light-sustained paradise is all I can see.

Questions

1.      Do you see the fruits of the Spirit as requirements, or gifts?

2.      How do you picture the Holy Spirit guiding you?

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for joy that comes from walking in Your light, and the allowance to “carry out [our] good intentions,” freely and ungoverned. Amen.

—Abby Fullen