“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).
On Sunday, many of us who are reading through the Bible, finished Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. In Galatians chapter 5, Paul is reminding the Galatians that the crucified and risen Jesus has set us free and living into that freedom is living a faithful and fruitful life. As a fruit tree naturally grows fruit, followers of Jesus bear spiritual fruit, or as St. Paul calls them, the Fruit of the Spirit. These fruits include the Christian virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 is an important Bible passage to commit to memory. When I recite it, I often use nine fingers to help me remember the nine fruits of the spirit. I still have a tough time remembering which comes first in order: generosity or gentleness. So, I would encourage you this week to commit Galatians 5:22-23a to memory… and commit Galatians 5:22-23a to your daily life. Just think how different our world would be, if we all lived out the fruits of the spirit.