Fruitful

Evil will find a way into all our lives, in some way, doing what it can to distort the truth. But our Savior wanted us to live in love, joy, with peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, with gentleness and self-control. How hard that is to do when we allow oursleves to be distracted by things in this life that keep us from seeing those truths in ourselves and in others. How hard it also can be to achieve, when we aren't seeking His ways first.

If we really look into the hearts of those around us, I mean, REALLY LOOK, we can see we are all fighting for the good, in some way. We all want these fruits of the spirit. We all are striving to find a way to get there. But are we doing it our way... or His? Are we choosing to decide what's just in our own eyes, or truly seeking the will of our Lord?

The passage in full goes as this:

Life by the Spirit

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Lord help us seek you and your will above all things first, so that we may ALL receive the fruits of the spirit in full...

Together