Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love…
​In our journey through the series "Empowered Living," we delve into what it means to live a Spirit-filled life. This week, we focus on the love as described in 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter, often referred to as the "love chapter," provides a picture of the kind of love that God wants for us to express. God’s love in us should be more than just an emotion. It can impact society by reflecting the character of Jesus. Galatians 5:22-23 outlines the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not separate fruits but a singular fruit with multiple aspects (kind of like a cluster of grapes), all of which reflect the character of Jesus.
 
Paul's letter to the Corinthians emphasizes the importance of love amidst the discussion of spiritual gifts. Oftentimes we get excited about the gifts of the Spirit, but God gets excited about the fruit of the Spirit.
 
Dr. Clayton Ford told this story to bring home the point that the fruit of the Spirit are more important than the gifts. He writes,
 
“Years ago, a young woman came through our church parking lot where I was pastoring in Southern California. As we talked, she told me that she was part of a different church which was associated with a Pentecostal denomination. I was interested to hear about her congregation since I very much affirm Pentecostals (actually, I like to think of myself as a "Bapti-costal" church). However, what she said to me illustrates how teaching on this theme of the Holy Spirit can confuse people.
“‘My husband is Spirit-filled but I am not,’ she said. ‘I try my best to serve the Lord and I teach Sunday School,’ she continued. ‘But Pastor, I am going through so much pain. My husband is drunk all the time. I've also discovered that he's running around with other women.’
“Looking in her tear-filled eyes I replied, ‘I must have misunderstood you. I thought you said that your husband was Spirit-filled and you're not.’ ‘Yes. That's what I said,’ the woman answered.
“‘Can you explain this to me, please? How can you say he's filled with the Holy Spirit if he is doing those things?’ I asked. ‘He speaks in tongues,’ she said, ‘and I do not.’ I thought to myself, ‘You dear, dear sister. The glow of Jesus is so bright on your face, yet you've come to see yourself as a second-class Christian simply because you don't have the gift of tongues.’
“The gift of tongues is one of the many gifts of the Holy Spirit and is certainly a wonderful blessing. However it is not given to create a separation in the church between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’ While all who believe in Christ receive the Holy Spirit, not all receive that particular spiritual gift. But, on the other hand, everyone who lives a Spirit-filled life demonstrates Christ-like character. This woman had that character!” [1]
 
Ford helpfully provided this story to show how superior the fruit of the Spirit is compared with the gifts. Now, Christians should want both. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:31, "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." This "more excellent way" is love, which he elaborates on in chapter 13. When the Holy Spirit fills the believer’s life, the fruit will be apparent and will express the character of Jesus naturally. Notice how natural this love is to be evidenced in the believer’s life in the following verses:
 
John 13:35 – By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
 
1 John 4:7-8 - 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God. 8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.
 
Ephesians 5:1-2 - 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
 
Romans 5:5 – The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
 
The fruit of love abides inside of each child of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit. What does it look like? 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 provides a detailed description of love through 15 powerful action words. These characteristics are not just ideals but practical expressions of God's love in our lives. The Amplified Bible expands each phrase as follows:
 
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP)
4  Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5  It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8  Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]…
 
15 POWERFUL ACTION WORDS DESCRIBING LOVE:

1. suffers long (13:4) – “love gives us the power to suffer long.”
2. acts kindly (13:4) – while suffering long.
3. does not envy (13:4) – is not jealous.
4. does not parade itself (13:4) – does not boast.
5. is not puffed up (13:4) – is not stuck up on the inside.
6. does not behave rudely (13:5) – is courteous and respectful.
7. does not seek its own (advantage) (13:5)
8. is not provoked (13:5) - “easily” is not in the original
9. thinks no evil (13:5) – doesn’t dwell on the negative
10. does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth (13:6) – celebrates truth and righteousness.
11. bears all things (13:7) – Love is resilient.
12. believes all things (13:7) – Love’ isn’t blind or gullible.
13. hopes all things (13:7) – hope means your eye is always on the goal.
14. endures all things (13:7) – to remain under
15. never fails (13:8)

 
God's love has the power to transform lives. It can turn a man into a gentleman and a woman into a lady. These 15 powerful action words emphasize that love is not just a feeling but a series of actions. These characteristics are practical expressions of God's love in our lives. Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit with the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21. These works, such as adultery and fornication, are often mistaken for love but are distortions. True love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is pure and selfless.
 
Jesus is the perfect embodiment of love. By replacing the word "love" with "Jesus" in 1 Corinthians 13, we see a beautiful portrait of His character. This same love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), enabling us to love others as Jesus loves us. Whether it's showing kindness to a stranger or forgiving someone who has wronged us, every act of love reflects Jesus to the world.
 
This week, challenge yourself to stay close to Jesus and allow His love to flow through you. Reflect on the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13 and ask yourself:
 
-           Am I staying close enough to Jesus to allow His love to transform me?
-           How can I better reflect the characteristics of love in my daily life?
-           What steps can I take to let go of past hurts and extend forgiveness?
 
By focusing on these questions and striving to embody the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, we can become true reflections of Jesus to a watching world. Let His love be the magnet that draws others to Him through our lives.
 
“Lord, thank You for teaching me about Your love and how I can reflect it in my life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to abide in You and let Your love flow through me to those around me. May I be known by my love and be a light to this world. Lay some soul upon my heart today, and love that soul through me. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
 
[1] Personal story from Dr. Clayton Ford, http://hsrm.org/HolySpiritBookletRevisedSeptember_07.pdf

Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…

As Christians, we often grapple with expectations—both from others and ourselves. But what does God want us to look like? Romans 8:29 tells us that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son - Jesus. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion. This means that our Christian life is one of continuous development and growth, looking more like Jesus each day.

In today's world, it's easy to present a polished version of ourselves, but God wants us to live authentically. The Christian life God wants us to experience is not about putting on a facade but about genuine spiritual growth that reflects the fruit of the Spirit. It's not about faking joy or peace but genuinely experiencing these fruits of the Spirit.

I came across an interesting story from Stuart Briscoe about his childhood friend. This friend lived in a two-story house that had an old fruit tree right outside the bedroom window. Whenever the little boy thought he was about to get into trouble, he would scramble out the window and climb down that old fruit tree. However, this tree hadn't borne any fruit for many years; it was completely barren. Eventually, the boy's father decided it was time to take action. He declared, "I'm going to cut this tree down. It's served no purpose for years and is just taking up space." That night, the little boy gathered his friends and they bought a bushel of apples. They carefully tied the apples all over the tree in a desperate attempt to save it. In the morning, the father woke up to find his wife, Mary, and exclaimed, “Mary, I can’t believe my eyes. The old fruit tree that was barren for years is covered with apples. It’s a miracle because it’s a pear tree!”[1]

This humorous story illustrates that true spiritual fruit cannot be artificially attached; it must grow naturally. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a life filled with the Holy Spirit, not something we can manufacture on our own.

Galatians 5:22-23 lists these fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not manufactured traits but natural byproducts of a Spirit-filled life. These traits paint a portrait of Jesus. While the gifts of the Spirit are important, the fruit of the Spirit is the true evidence of a Spirit-filled life. Galatians 5 emphasizes character traits over spiritual gifts.

Abiding in Christ

Our focus should be on these fruits, which naturally grow as we abide in Christ. John 15:1-5 emphasizes the importance of abiding in Christ. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, we cannot produce spiritual fruit unless we remain in close relationship with Jesus. The command is not to be more loving or joyful but to abide in Christ. This abiding life allows the Holy Spirit to work through us, producing genuine spiritual fruit.

This week, challenge yourself to focus on one fruit of the Spirit. Whether it's love, joy, peace, or another trait, ask God to help you grow in that area. Reflect on these questions:

Am I genuinely expressing this fruit, or am I merely putting on a facade?

How can I abide more deeply in Christ to allow this fruit to grow naturally?

What opportunities is God giving me to practice this fruit in my daily life?

The empowered life that God promises is not about doing more but about being more like Jesus. As we abide in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, we will naturally produce the fruit of the Spirit. This authentic transformation will not only change us but also impact those around us, allowing them to see Jesus in us.

“Lord, help me to abide in You and stay connected to Your life-giving presence. Let Your Holy Spirit work through me to produce genuine spiritual fruit. Amen. Help me live empowered by Your Spirit, reflecting the character of Jesus in all I say and do. Help me to grow in authenticity and allow Your love, joy, and peace to flow through me. In Jesus' name, Amen.”

[1] Adapted from https://www.family-times.net/illustration/Quiet-Time/201718/

Isaiah 40:27-31 offers timeless wisdom on how to access God’s strength in our daily lives. Isaiah 40 paints a somber picture of Israel's history. After the fall of the northern kingdom in 722 BC and the Babylonian captivity in 586 BC, the people of God found themselves in exile, questioning if God had forgotten them. They were promised a land flowing with milk and honey, yet they were now displaced and destitute. Just as the Israelites faced their crises, we too encounter life's challenges. The questions arise: Is God strong enough to give me the strength I need? Does God care enough to provide that strength? Isaiah 40 answers these questions, assuring us of God's power and concern.

I. Contemplate His Capabilities
To access God’s strength, we must answer the question: Can God strengthen us?

Isaiah 40 gives several of God’s attributes, so we can marvel at His majesty:
1. Merciful: God is rich in mercy, pardoning our iniquities (Isaiah 40:1-2).
2. Eternal: The Word of God stands forever, unchanging amidst a rapidly changing world (Isaiah 40:8).
3. Omnipotent: God measures the waters and weighs the mountains, showcasing His immense power (Isaiah 40:12).
4. Gentle: Like a shepherd, God gently leads and cares for us (Isaiah 40:11).
5. Omniscient: God knows everything, from the beginning to the end (Isaiah 40:13-14).
6. Sovereign: God's plan will never be thwarted by man; He is in control of all nations (Isaiah 40:15-17, 22).

II. Count on His Concern
To access God’s strength, we must answer the question: Does God care about us?

Isaiah 40:27 says, “Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God’?” I like how the Message paraphrases this, “Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, ‘God has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me’?”

Life's crises can make us question if God is truly concerned enough to help us. Isaiah reassures us that God is not only powerful but also deeply concerned about each of us. He knows our struggles and cares for us individually. Trusting in God's care means believing that He is aware of our needs and is actively working to meet them. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” God cares about you individually. He knows what you're going through. And your way is not hidden from God.

III. Catch His Currents
To access God’s strength, we must answer the question: What does it mean to wait on the Lord?

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

This verse promises that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. The eagle, which soars without flapping its wings, symbolizes the strength we can gain by waiting on the Lord. Eagles catch thermal currents, allowing them to soar effortlessly. Similarly, when we wait on God, we catch the "thermal currents" of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to conserve energy and gain strength.

Waiting on the Lord involves three things:

1. Seeking God’s Presence - This means spending time with Him, not just in moments of crisis, but daily. When we seek God's presence, we open ourselves to His guidance and strength. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2. Sensing God’s Plans - God has a plan for each of us, and His plans are always for our good. When we wait on the Lord, we begin to sense His plans for our lives. This involves listening to His voice and being open to His guidance. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
3. Serving God’s Purposes - This means using the strength and guidance we receive from God to serve others and fulfill His will. It's about being ready to do what God wants us to do, much like a waiter ready to serve. When we serve God's purposes, we find true fulfillment and joy. It's not about adding more to our to-do list, but about aligning our actions with God's will. God has given each one of us enough time to do that which He's asked us to do. But what do we do? We try to do what God tells us to do, and then we add a whole bunch of other activities that we think are good ideas – and we are exhausted. We will enjoy God’s strength when we focus our lives on what He has told us to do and stay content in God’s will.

This week, challenge yourself to wait on the Lord. Spend time in His presence, seek His plans, and serve His purposes. Reflect on the following questions:

• Have you focused more on your problems than on God's power to solve them?
• Do you believe that God cares about your individual needs and circumstances?
• Are you waiting on God, allowing His Spirit to guide and strengthen you?

God's strength is available to us not just in times of crises but in our everyday lives. By contemplating His capabilities, counting on His concern, and catching the currents of the Holy Spirit, we can find the strength to soar, run, and walk in our Christian journey. Let God set the pace in your life, and experience the renewal that only He can provide.

“Dear God, I pray that You help me learn to wait on You. I want to experience Your strength. I need Your strength. Help me remember that my way is not hidden from You. You know where I am, and You care about me. I pray You would help me wait on You, seeking Your presence, sensing Your plans and serving Your purposes. I choose to let You set the pace in my life. Thank You for Your strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

*This devotional blog is adapted from the sermon: "Strengthened by the Holy Spirit." 

Our Winsome Witness at Work
For contextual background, read the previous blogpost: “Does the Bible Endorse Slavery?”
 
1 Peter 2:18–20 (NKJV)
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
 
The best way Christians today can apply 1 Peter 2:18 is in the employee and employer relationship. These verses can be applied to grace and respect in the workplace. There are gentle employers, and there are harsh employers. There are fair employers and unfair employers. God wants employees to honor, respect and work hard for both. The main point is that Christians, no matter where they are, should be known for their submissiveness. God's people are not to be known as a rebellious people who are constantly opposing the structure of authority that exists. 1 Peter 3:1-7 describes submissiveness in the home. 1 Peter 2:13-17 describes submissiveness in society. In this passage, a few principles can be applied to submissiveness in the workplace.
 
The first principle is to respect the position the employer holds at your work. 1 Peter 2:18 says, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.” The word “harsh” is the Greek word “scolios” which means “crooked”. The medical condition “scoliosis” is when there is a bend in the spine. Peter says you may have a boss that is gracious and gentle, but you may have one who is crooked and harsh. Either way, God’s people are to treat their boss with respect because of the position. You say, “Well, I’ll do that for the good ones, but not for the bad ones.”
 
I hope you have had the fortunate experience of working for a kind boss. I remember my first boss as a sixteen-year-old working at a bookstore. She was so kind, and I worked for her for six months before she told us that she was moving to another state. I told her, “You can’t leave,” as I wept because she was such a good manager. I would gladly submit to someone like that. However, what happens when you are working for a person who rubs you the wrong way? Peter says to respect the position of authority.
 
The second principle is to respond with patience. 1 Peter 2:19-20 continues, “19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
 
The New Living Translation of verse 20 reads, “Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong.” Imagine you've shown up late for work several times in the last month. You've been reprimanded several times because you keep talking back to your employer. However, he knows that you're a Christian. You can’t say, “Well, I’m being persecuted because I got fired from that job.” No, you got fired from that job because you were late every day and because you disrespected him over and over again. You got fired because of laziness and rebelliousness.
 
Our Christian testimony should be exemplified in a strong work ethic. Christians ought to be the ones who show up to work on time and work with excellence. Christians should be known for a respectful and submissive disposition. Our diligence at work ought to make Christ attractive to others. Verse 20 concludes, “But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you” (NLT).
 
When you are suffering wrongfully at work, and you endure it patiently, just remember that God showed patience toward us in drawing us to Christ. Jesus Christ suffered wrongfully on the Cross. Patience is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, Christians are empowered to show patient endurance even in challenging work environments.
 
Watchman Nee, a prolific Christian author, described how he went on the mission field as a young man and was serving a woman named Margaret Barber who oversaw the entire work. She placed Nee under the authority of a manager, whom Nee thought was ignorant. Nee was young and gifted, but he was very frustrated working underneath this manager. He felt he was smarter than his boss. The boss would tell him something to do, and instead of doing it, Nee would go to the woman over the entire work to complain. She would respond by telling Nee to do what the manager told him to do, and if he had a problem, to talk with his boss about it. She put him back under the authority of that manager. This occurred multiple times while Nee was serving in this ministry.
 
Margaret Barber later told Nee that she intentionally didn’t put him underneath one of the more skilled managers. She knew he needed to learn how to respect authority. Nee states that the lessons he learned during that time were crucial to his development. God can use both gracious and harsh bosses in our lives to develop us and prepare us for future opportunities and assignments. In whatever work environment we find ourselves, we need to respond with grace to those who are in authority over us.
 
The third principle is to rejoice in God’s pleasure. When you experience something at work that is unjust and unfair, but you respond with patience and endurance, Peter twice states, “This is commendable to God.” You are responding with the same grace that God showed you on the cross.
 
It is important to clarify that God’s Word is not saying that you have to submit to treatment that is illegal or immoral from a boss. Once Peter was told he could not preach in the name of Jesus, and his response was, “I’m going to obey God rather than man.” (see Acts 5:29). Peter is not saying to submit if your employer asks you to lie, steal or do something immoral.
 
Peter is saying that when you patiently endure unfairness as a hard-working Christian, God is pleased with you. Perhaps your employer knows you have all of the experience, education and credentials, but you are blacklisted because you are known to be a Christian. Instead of complaining, you respond with grace and class. God says that is commendable. Imagine God seeing from heaven and saying, “Thank you for doing what you know to be the right thing to do. I commend you.” That response from God should cause His followers to rejoice.
.
Peter illustrates this response by using Jesus as our chief Example. In verse 23, Peter says, “[W]ho, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”  Jesus submitted Himself to God, committing His mistreatment into the hands of a righteous God. God has saved you from eternal damnation in hell through the blood of Jesus Christ, which means He can justly handle your workplace environment. He knows what you're going through. He sees everything.
 
We must consider how we present ourselves to others. Is it through our words? Primarily, it's through our actions—specifically, how we manage relationships with difficult bosses and interact with our coworkers. Are we constantly gossiping and undermining one another? Are we trying to outdo each other, engaging in the same behaviors as everyone else? Or do we behave differently as people of faith, to the extent that it attracts others to our Christian faith? They might ask, "What makes them different? They don't operate the same way that everyone else does." When we live this way, our words can carry more weight.
 
This is the core of Peter's argument: We can have a winsome witness in our work while God uses a transformed life to transform society.
 
“Lord, thank You my work. I praise You that I have an opportunity to show my Christian witness at work. Please use me today to share Your love and show Your kindness to others. Help me respect those that supervise my work. Help me respond with patience when I feel I have been mistreated. Help me work to please You above all others. In Jesus’ name, amen.”