May our great and awesome Godhead favor you with His refreshing peace, grace, love and joy!
After being a little impatient with my wife this week, I found myself looking at a plaque hanging in our kitchen where we were. The words from Galatians 5:22–23:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Sure enough, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart of my fleshly, sinful character. The Christlike character I long to live by was overtaken in the moment of my weakness (again)! I turned to Beckie and said, “Sorry, Hunnee. I need to live by the Spirit and show you Jesus-Spirit fruit! Please forgive me!”
As a husband, father, grandfather, pastor, and follower of Jesus, I’m reminded that my spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how much Scripture I know or how “well I serve” others and God. The fruit of the Spirit should be evident in my everyday relationships, especially with my wife! Amen. Help me, Jesus!
This Father’s Day weekend, I think the Lord is inviting all of us to pause and ask: Is His fruit growing in and living through me? Am I becoming more loving, patient, gentle, and self-controlled? I know we are not perfect – but the good news is that God is Spirit and possesses all the attributes in Galatians 5:22-23! And His Spirit lives in us to correct back to Him, to know that He continues to empower us towards transformation in Jesus!
May His Spirit continue to shape and prune us, while producing His character in us as we surrender to Him daily. May we all live by the Spirit and bear fruit that points others to Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace, strength, and Spirit working in us to will and do of Your great pleasure!
This is OUR FATHER’S DAY PRAYER!
