A Fruit of the Spirit is…Patience
If you have ever been stuck in a traffic jam or waited in line to get your driver’s license renewed or been within ten feet of a two year old having a temper tantrum, you might have noticed that patience is in short supply these days – maybe even...
A Fruit of the Spirit is Peace
Why is it that when life becomes complicated or hard, we yearn for “peace and quiet”? I know sometimes it is tempting to try to find a cave to dwell in and get away from people forever. Some days I think to myself how nice it would be to...
You Can’t Spell “Joy” Without Bacon: A Fruit of the Spirit is Joy (Galatians 5)
Joy is one of the most misunderstood fruits of the Spirit. Often it is confused with happiness, but in some ways, it is actually the opposite of happiness. For example, happiness is a fleeting emotion; joy is a permanent state of mind. Happiness is dependent on your circumstances; joy...
The Fruit(s) of the Spirit and The Works of the Flesh in Galatians 5
By contrast, the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (Galatians 5:22-23) When I was younger, I was told to memorize this verse. Unfortunately most of the translations are inadequate and make things more...