The Danger of Conceit

e conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:26

At the end of the passage, concluding the point he was making regarding the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, the Spirit Himself inspired Paul to make a practical application…

Walking in Freedom

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control, against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22–23

The Lord desires to lead us by His Spirit, with the written Word providing a…

Love’s Fruit Is Self-control

The fruit of the Spirit is … self-control.

Galatians 5:22–23

The final aspect of the Spirit’s fruit is the ability to control one’s entire personality. The idea is one of having a sound mind, well-disciplined, not subject to…

Love’s Fruit Is Longsuffering

The fruit of the Spirit is…longsuffering

Galatians 5:22

This particular aspect of the Spirit’s fruit would have held special meaning for the Galatians for it was through the sufferings of Paul that they had first heard of…

Keeping in Step with the Spirit

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

The daily goal for believers is to remain in step with the Spirit, like a military unit on the parade ground following the commands of their…

Love’s Fruit Is Faith

The fruit of the Spirit is … faithfulness
Galatians 5:22

I believe English speakers have a unique challenge to understand the biblical concept of faith, and this is partly because we have so many words for faith: believe, belief, trust, faithfulness, etc. Here, for example, it is…

The Law of Christ

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

God’s Goodness in Us

Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7

On the subject of goodness as a fruit of the Spirit, we have a narrow way to walk in understanding the work of God.

Love’s Fruit Is Meekness

The fruit of the Spirit is … meekness

Galatians 5:22–23

For some unknown reason the chapter verse division begins a new verse here — these verse divisions are artificial, not part of the original text, added later to help Christians…

Love’s Fruit Is Goodness

The fruit of the Spirit is … goodness

Galatians 5:22

The Galatians had allowed legalism to seep into their congregation — an outward display of rightness that is actually void of inward goodness. Paul warned them not to continue with…

Love’s Fruit Is Kindness

The fruit of the Spirit is … kindness

Galatians 5:22

If you want to change the world, learn to be kind to others. This is the work of the Spirit in our lives: to produce genuine kindness within us.

Examining Ourselves!

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5

The command is not to test Christ or to examine Him to see whether or not He saves, but to see whether we have met the conditions of salvation…

Sowing and Reaping

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time…

Standing in Christ

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
Galatians 6:14–15

Today’s Preparation

The horse is made ready for the day of battle but the victory belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31

For decades I have spent time in both an evening devotional, preparing for sleep, and in a morning devotional time preparing for the day. The…

Our Position in Christ

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:24

In Christ we are separated from the world’s moral and spiritual system. The moment we trusted in Christ we decided whose side we were…

Love’s Fruit Is Peace

The fruit of the Spirit is … peace.

Galatians 5:22

We think we know the opposite of peace — conflict is the usual suspect — but peace is more profound than just the absence of conflict. In fact, since we are always in a spiritual conflict…

Becoming Someone in Christ

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

Love’s Fruit is Joy

The Fruit of the Spirit is… joy

Galatians 5:22

The result of Christianity, the faith that is constructed on the death and resurrection of Christ is joy. If this fact surprises us that out of such suffering joy should rise, then it is good to…

Giving Back

Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will…