Getting Your 9-A-Day

Galatians 5: 22-23 (NLT) 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Last summer, Gas Street ran a preaching series on the fruit of the spirit. Side note, this was the first time I realised it was 'fruit' and not 'fruits'. Mind blown. 

New Testament scholar Leon Morris suggests Paul's use of the singular is because '(he) is not speaking of a series of fruits that would be shared around, so that one believer has one, another another,' but instead a cluster, such that all the qualities are to be manifested in each believer.' 

Hmm, ‘Fruit for Everyone’ - the title of our next 'Worship for Everyone' gathering? 

Anyway, the fruit of the spirit: it’s always helpful to remember that all scripture, Old or New Testament, points to Jesus and I love this passage because it encompasses everything about Jesus’s character neatly and concisely. Jesus is loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled. That’s our God! 

So, my question for you today is - which of the cluster of fruit have you been lacking in? 

Take the time to stop, reflect and let the Holy Spirit prompt you. Maybe you could do with a bit more patience, or would like an opportunity to grow in kindness, or have been struggling with a lack of self-control. 

Prayer — Jesus, I pray you would help me to grow in the fruit of the spirit. I pray that you would provide opportunities for me to grow in *insert fruit* and become more like you.