Living in the Spirit

Today I decided to post my thoughts on the fruit of the Spirit that I talked about last Saturday. Next Saturday I'll be doing a double batch of my LBFJ mini-devotionals. :)

 

So when I read Galatians chapter 5, it really stood out to me, and I decided to study the fruit of the Spirit in depth with Webster's 1828 Dictionary, as I did with 1 Corinthians 13. The result was very interesting. 

So it begins with verses 16: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." 

If we walk in the Spirit, we are not living like the world; we are living truly Godly lives. But what is walking in the Spirit?   

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:” (Galatians 5:22-23).

What is that exactly? Let's look at them closer. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... LOVE.

Webster defines love as "To have benevolence or good will for." He defines benevolence as "The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love, of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness." And he defines kindness as "Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love."

In other words... one of the fruits of the Spirit is to care for others--want the best for them--to do what you can for them to make them happy(ier). 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... JOY.

"Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good," says Webster. He also defines it as "Happiness; felicity. Gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits." In other words, joy is being happy in the present and looking forwards with delight & exultation to the future (Heaven). Joy is being glad, cheerful, delighted. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... PEACE.

Peace is "Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquillity; calmness; quiet of conscience." I have to say these words really touched my heart. Peace is being quiet. Still. Calm. At rest. Peace don't stress or worry. Peace is resting on God. Peace is... peaceful. Untroubled. Assured. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... LONGSUFFERING.

"Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked." There is a lot to ponder in these words. It's basically being patient, humble, and self-controlled.  

• The fruit of the Spirit is... GENTLENESS.

Gentleness... "Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness." Again, the words speak for themselves. It's kindness, really. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... GOODNESS.

Goodness--"The moral qualities which constitute christian excellence; moral virtue; religion." Moral virtue--that is to say, "Moral goodness; the practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be, distinguished from religion. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of convenience, or from compulsion, or from regard to reputation, is virtue as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue and religion.... Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth." About moral, Webster says, "Relating to the practice, manners or conduct of men as social beings in relation to each other, and with reference to right and wrong. The word moral is applicable to actions that are good or evil, virtuous or vicious, and has reference to the law of God as the standard by which their character is to be determined." The fruit of the Spirit is simply obeying God's word and doing what is right in every thing. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... FAITH.

Webster says faith is "Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of his word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because he has declared them." Faith is trust and assurance in the face of everything that screams the contrary. 

• The fruit of the Spirit is... MEEKNESS.

Meekness is described as "Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations. In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness." I don't think this needs any explanation.  

• The fruit of the Spirit is... TEMPERANCE.

Temperance is "Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; ... Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion." I always thought temperance related only to the body, but it also applies to the mind. The fruit of the Spirit is being controlled and moderate in our everything, because it is God's temple. 

I don't know about you, but I found a lot to think about in these verses. In verses 24-25, Paul continues, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." 

Am I walking in the Spirit and allowing it to have full control over me? Am I displaying the fruit of the Spirit? All these things relate to every aspect of our lives. If we walk in the Spriti, our whole life is under God's control & glorifies Him. If we walk in the Spirit, we are living as we should be--like Christ.