Thoughts for the Day

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.......

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 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 be guided by the Spirit.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Stgandard Version)

Thoughts

This passage from Paul's letter to the Galatians includes the sins of the flesh which I looked at a year ago (26th February 2021), so today we look at the first two of the fruits of the Spirit - love and joy. The phrase 'fruits of the Spirit' should make it clear to us that just as say, apples and cherries, are produced by healthy fruit trees, so when we grow in faith we should produce fruit. In our case the signs of this growth can be seen in the first two that Paul lists - love, and joy.

If we take 'love' first, we cannot fake or make it really! The point is that we begin to change as we draw closer to God, and as we ask His power - the Holy Spirit - into our life. God is essentially pure love, and He calls us to love Him unconditionally and to show that love to others.

Our second word 'joy', is not one of giddy pleasure (well not usually) and if it were it would probably drive others to distraction. It's a deep sense of well-being, of pleasure, of happiness, of contentment and comfort. It is perhaps a kind of resting in the Holy Spirit, knowing that whatever happens in life, God is in control.

Finally, both love and joy are not passive, they are active words, inviting us to explore and grow in faith as we learn to share our faith with other people.

Holy Spirit, Power of God,
guide us this and every day,
and help us to continue growing in faith.
May we learn to produce more fruit,
and to show evidence
of love and of joy in our life,
and in all that we do this day.
Amen.