November 8, 2019
Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
New International Version (NIV)
                What is the greatest virtue?  Many ancient writers left us lists of vices and virtues.  As Paul contrasted the lives of Christians before and after they met Christ, he often offered lists to describe the old and new behavior.  Right before the fruit of the Spirit we find the deeds of the flesh.  Those who practice immorality, idolatry and dissensions do not inherit the kingdom of God.  God is not the king of those who act in those ways.

               Then Paul calls his list of virtues the fruit of the Spirit.  These are not the "fruits" of the Spirit, but the product of the Spirit's work in our lives.  We expect orange trees to produce oranges.  It would be odd if they produced pears.  Christians produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  As Jack Gray taught us in seminary, "When you are bumped you will spill whatever fills you."  So what fills us today?  God's Holy Spirit!

               When our children's choirs sang about the fruit of the Spirit in a musical at Tallowood, we challenged the church to take one fruit a day for the next nine days.  Let's do it again.  Today, let's focus on love.  Love in the New Testament is not the flabby virtue of tolerance.  Love is a cross, laying down our lives for others.  As the old song put it:  "We are loved, we are loved, we can risk loving others for the one who knows us best, loves us most."  As Paul told the Corinthians, the greatest virtue is love!
Pray with me:      
Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only begotten Son.  As we trust him, plant your love in our hearts so that we bear all the good fruit of relationship with you.  Teach us to love the way you do.  We pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 
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