The Fruit of the Spirit
Today’s Verse:
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
As we begin our new week, I thought it prudent to reflect upon what we mean when we say that we follow Jesus Christ. Today, let us focus on the importance of bearing fruit—not by our will but by the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
Saint Paul reminds us that faith is not just believing—it is transformational in how we live. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are not just virtues that we strive to accomplish but direct evidence that Jesus is at work in us. We know that our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But that saving faith is never to remain idle; it is to bear fruit in the world.
Take some time today to reflect upon this topic. How is the Spirit leading you today? Is there an opportunity to show patience while dealing with some difficulty, kindness to a stranger, or self-control in our words? The blessed fruits of the Spirit grow not by forcing ourselves to do them but solely by abiding in Christ. As Jesus reminds us in John 5, as the branch draws life from the vine, we draw our lives from Jesus.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Gracious Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, who shapes us to be more like Christ. Help us today to walk in love, joy, and peace. Strengthen our faith so that we may bear good fruit, not for our glory, but for Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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