We begin our summer sermon series, "Bethel's 12 Scriptures," this week with Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit. These two verses stand on their own in being a formative description of what our life in the spirit should be. Children sing songs about these characteristics and we use them as a point of reference for what we are aiming for, for what qualities are representative of life in the Spirit. And yet, I find it helpful to root these verses within their context and will thus be reflecting on Galatians 5:13-26 in my sermon.
Within this context, we see that verses 22-23 are a counterpoint to verses 19-21. Paul is describing our life of freedom through the spirit and to do so, he names what a life of bondage looks like first. Then he contrasts this with the fruits of the spirit that are born out of a life of faithfulness and the freedom that comes with this. This contrast flushes out some important lessons for us yet today.
First in our American context in which we pride ourselves on our freedoms, we are tempted to believe that we are free to do whatever we want. Yet Paul is describing a different type of freedom, structured freedom that come from limiting ourselves. Second, we have life-giving choice. We also have a tendency within our culture to say that if we are created a certain way that it is thus beyond us to have a choice in how we act. It is just who we are. Yet here, Paul sets up this dichotomy as a choice that we have to make. We choose whether or not we will live a life that is in step with the spirit and will bear fruit or to live a life that is not in step with the spirit and will not bear fruit. Third, we know that we are in step with the spirit when we exhibit these nine fruits. The bearing of this fruit is evidence that we are in step with the spirit. It is affirmative evidence.
As you consider the fruit of the Spirit, reflect on these questions
in a time of silence, through journaling or in group dialogue.
1. Are there times in your life in which you have seen clear fruit of the spirit in your life? What were the circumstances surrounding this experience?
2. Who are people that you know personally or that are well know figures that exemplify one or more of these fruits of the Spirit for you? Which fruits do they exhibit and in what way do you see this?
3. What gives you strength in times of weakness to choose the "fruit of the spirit" over the "ways of the flesh"?
4. How have you experienced the effects of choices in the flesh personally or in the lives of others?
5. How might God be calling you to be more deeply in step with the Spirit?
May Jesus richly bless you in this week ahead, leading you in His kingdom purposes. Amen
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