June 27
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” Galatians 5:22-25.
In yesterday’s devotion, we wrote about the works of the flesh, which the Christian should avoid. By contrast, in today’s devotion, the apostle speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are the things that will follow in the life of one who is led by the Spirit of God. These are the things that flow out of the heart that is filled with faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior.
The Holy Spirit moves the Christian to perform the deeds of Christian love. Love stands at the beginning of the list of Christian virtues. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law,” Romans 13:10. Moved by the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus, the Christian will show love for his or her neighbor. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 22:39. “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Matthew 7:12. Do you want people to hurt and harm you? No! Then do not hurt and harm them. Do you want people to lie and defame you? No! Then don’t lie about them. Do you want people to covet what you have and steal from you? No! Then don’t covet what they have and steal from them.
Out of love one rejoices when the neighbor succeeds in his God-fearing efforts. Out of love one will live and be at peace with the neighbor. One will be patient in dealings with the neighbor and avoid envy and quarrels. One will be gentle and practice self-control of tongue and temper.
These are all virtues which the Law of God does not forbid but rather urges and commands. As Christians, we desire to do what is pleasing to God and helpful for our neighbors.
“Those who are Christ’s” – that is, those who belong to Him by faith in Him as the Son of God and the only Savior – have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” They say, “No!” to the sinful desires of the flesh and to the temptations of their sinful nature, of the sinful world and of the devil. It is summarized in the words of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” If, indeed, we are Christians – if we have been brought to faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior who suffered, died, and rose again to redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the devil – and if we are kept in the faith by the power of the Spirit, then let us go forward and live the Christian life.
“Let us ever walk with Jesus,
Follow His example pure;
Flee the world, which would deceive us,
And to sin our souls allure.
Ever in His footsteps treading,
Body here, yet soul above;
Full of faith and hope and love,
Let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, abide with me;
Savior, lead, I follow Thee.” Amen.