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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We have looked at this section of Paul's letter to the Galatians twice before (see below), and today we look again at the Fruits of the Spirit. Paul says that just as fruit is produced on healthy fruit trees, so the life of a Christian should show evidence of spiritual fruit. He lists nine such fruits. We looked at the first two, Love and Joy, and now we look at Peace and Patience.

In Greek the word Peace means something like quietness or rest. It is an inward peace. Despite what is going on outside we remain calm and untroubled, because we have handed our worries over to God. Peace is a gift from God and it is within us. As we grow closer to God one of the spiritual fruits we receive from the Holy Spirit is peace - our soul is at rest!

The next fruit is Patience. This is not the kind of passive resignation that comes when we wait for the lights to change at the roadworks. It is a gift from God, that develops within us and flows out to others. Patience is waiting on our loving Heavenly Father, knowing that His plans and His timing are perfect. Patience is again a fruit of the Holy Spirit who is at work in our life, and is often evident in times of personal or national crisis. It is shown as having trust that God's plans will be fulfilled in His time.

Heavenly Father,
we ask for the blessings
of Your Holy Spirit,
that we may receive
the gifts of Peace and Patience,
and learn to show these to others
in humility and grace.
Amen.