Fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23

 

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?                                                                        Jesus, in Matthew 7:16

 

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

 

Today we begin a series on the fruits of the Spirit.  We talk at the beginning of this series about love because it is the first that Paul mentioned in his list.  Love is first for the same reason he held love up as the greatest over faith and hope. Here we go!

I love being a pastor, but I hope it is mostly evident that the favorite thing I am is a husband and a Dad.  I have always tried to make those roles my priorities.  I cringe at the many times I have let other priorities become first, but I think for the most part, my immediate family have and will always be first.  The reason for this is obvious – I love them.  But here’s something cool that I’ve realized:  making my family my priority is the best thing I can do for all the others in my life.  I know that there have been other staff members I’ve served with who have changed their priorities to put their family first because they have seen me do it,  It’s not the majority, but some.  I have seen my children’s friends take notice of how things are in our family in a good way.  I have seen the families of the babies that are cared for by my wife, and my daughters Emily and Rachel be affected by the way those children are loved.  In short, love multiplies. 

So, knowing that explains why the Apostle Paul wrote these words: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love. . .”

 

Question: Can you name an example of a time when you saw love multiply?

 

Prayer:  God, thank you for those who have modeled for us what love looks like.  Help us multiply it. Amen.

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Prayer Focus:  Pray for repentance, forgiveness, and healing of the racism in our country

 

Song: James Taylor – It’s Growing

This is a romantic song originally sung by The Temptations, but I thought it applies to all love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkRS5FuhFVg

Isaiah 9:2 - "In The Bleak Midwinter"

 

"In the Bleak Midwinter" - November 28, 2021

 

Isaiah 9:2  The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

 

Most scholars believe that Jesus was not born in December.  Some of the most compelling arguments are for March or April.  The bottom line is that we just don’t know for sure.  Despite that uncertainty the church eventually co-opted a previously pagan holiday and set the yearly celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25^th, in the bleak midwinter.  After hundreds of years of tradition, it seems most fitting to celebrate God entering the world during the harshest of seasons, a time when we would long for such a celebration.  And this year, it seems especially well timed in the bleak midwinter where we find ourselves still in the midst of a global pandemic.

I love today’s song for at least a couple reasons other than it is sung by one of my favorite artists.  It paints the picture of the dark and bleak time that Jesus entered the world.  The Word of God had not been definitely heard for four hundred years.  The people lived under the thumb of the ruthless Roman Empire.  Factions within Israel fought for influence but were mostly corrupt.  Poverty was widespread.  This is why I like it to be bitterly cold at Christmas.  It reminds me that the world did not offer Christ a warm welcome.  This tone, lyrics and Taylor’s voice singing this song captures that truth so beautifully. Listening to this song often elicits tears for me.

 

But in spite of its sad tone, this song offers hope.  It does so not by suddenly changing the tempo and tone to one that it joyous and upbeat, but by uttering powerful words of hope in the midst of minor chords and tear-jerking notes:

 

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.

 

Hope often comes not in the contrived “don’t worry, be happy” way.  Often it comes as a quiet divine “I’m here” in the midst of the harshest times of our lives.  I am thankful for that because that is the kind of hope we need this year.

 

Question:  What darkness do you need Christ to shed some light into this season?

 

Prayer:  God, you are welcome here.  Bring light to our darkness.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people struggling with depression and/or grief right now.

 

Song:  James Taylor - In the Bleak Midwinter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278y1yTr83w