“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22)
Many of you know this fall we have been having a Bible study within our congregation on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the early churches in Galatia. Once again, it has been a very interesting study for me, and I’m grateful for the high level of interest we have in our congregation for Bible study. Recently, we were reading and reflecting upon the fifth chapter of Galatians, where the Apostle Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit.” Paul says that where these experiences are present, the Spirit of God is surely present as well. He goes on to say that there is no “law” regulating these qualities and characteristics. There can be as much “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” as possible. We are free to exhibit these qualities anywhere and anytime, knowing they are a sure sign that we are living “in the Spirit.”
After the study was over one of the participants came up to me and said she would add two more “fruit” to this list, humility and gratitude. After thinking about it for a moment, I agreed. These two are additional qualities that reflect the presence of the Spirit of Christ in our lives and in the world around us. There is no “law” regulating these qualities either. In addition to agreeing, I said that perhaps the list Paul gives us in Galatians isn’t meant to be exhaustive, but rather simply some examples. Indeed, we may be able to add some additional “fruit” to this list, qualities that when present, we know the Spirit of God is actively at work and being displayed.
We are entering a time of year when, perhaps more than any other, we are invited to be humble and grateful. We are encouraged, in humility, to notice all the gifts that God continues to share with us, and to be grateful for the bounty of God’s blessings. Although not named on his list of the “fruit of the Spirit,” the Apostle Paul, speaks about the importance of gratitude in other places. For example, in his letter to the Philippians he says, “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). In his letter to the Colossians, he states “Let the word of God dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16). Clearly thankfulness and humility at important qualities within a follower of Christ, qualities against which there are no laws, and therefore qualities we can share and show not only this season, but throughout the year.
To close I’ll share a few additional thoughts on gratitude that I have recently come across in my readings:
Authentic work comes from a deep place of gratitude. Indeed, work is about gratitude; it is the expression of our gratitude for being here. (Matthew Fox)
Food teaches us gratitude. The rabbis insist that anyone who partakes of this world without first giving thanks has stolen from God. That’s why in Jewish law there is a blessing to say before eating, even the smallest morsel of food or before taking even a sip of water. (Rabbi Naomi Levy, Einstein and the Rabbi)
Acts of gratitude make one grateful because, step by step they reveal that all is grace. (Henri Nouwen)
Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul. (Amy Collette)
Blessings to all in this wonderful time of year!
Pastor John
