The Fruit of the Spirit is: Goodness.

Posted on May 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

My Pastor recently did a sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit. I thought I would share some take-away’s I noted from his message on Goodness.

There is a progression in our perspective of goodness as we grow older. When we are a kid, we are taught to “be good”. When we are a teenager we are concerned about “looking good”. And when we grow up, as adults we are more concerned about “feeling good”.

But what is goodness?

It’s important for us to understand this principle:

Apart from God, goodness does not exist.

Why? Because…God is good. Being good comes only from God, and we are commanded to do good.

God is good.

God is good in His person.

“The Lord is good ,a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”

Nahum 1:7

God is good in His provision.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17

God is good in His plans.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Being good.

People aren’t basically good.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.

Romans 3:12

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Romans 7:18

Doing good.

3 Reasons for doing good:

1-Inward

When you do good to others, you are doing yourself good.

2-Outward

Doing good impacts others. Acts 11:24

3-Upward

God’s is watching Prov 15:3

So what is goodness?—-Goodness is “doing love in your actions.”

Are you trusting wholly in our Good God?!

Are you “doing love in your actions”?!

You can check out Pastor Jeff’s message on goodness here.

Marlana Kaye

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit, OurSinglePurpose, singleness, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Biblical Womanhood

Posted on May 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

by: Rachael Woodworth; Guest Writer

Working with children, whether they belong to you or someone else, challenges your mind and draws out of your heart what you really believe about life.  I am a nanny to four, about to be five, children.  The eldest of the kids I nanny is ten and her body is beginning to change.  So we have many interesting conversations about maturing into a woman— “What are curves and why are they good on a woman? What parts of your body are you supposed to shave?  Does waxing your eyebrows hurt?  Do boys go through changes too?”— I smile a lot and find the innocence humorous.  But I take seriously the impact that I can have in her life for the sake of the gospel.  So I try to make every moment a teachable one.  One day, trying to encourage her that putting her own clothes away is part of growing up, I had mentioned that one of the roles of a woman is to take care of her home.  As I was getting dinner on the table for the kids that night, she asked me whose rules are better.  A little confused I asked, “What do you mean?” She clarified and asked if men’s or women’s rules are better.  A grin lit up my face as the light went on in my brain realizing that she was referencing back to our conversation about roles.  I asked, “You mean the ‘roles’ of men and women?”  She shyly giggled and affirmed my suspicion.

Though a simple issue of a vowel mix-up, this moment was not only a perfect one to teach her the beauty of God’s design in creating male and female with equal worth, it was also a picture of how many view God’s design of a woman’s roles: a set of rules of what she can’t do or has to do.  I hope in the words that follow that you will be encouraged to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, maturing more into the woman that God has designed you to be in love.

In Galatians 5, Paul reminds believers of their freedom in Christ.  This freedom is intended as an opportunity to serve others in love (vss. 13-15).  But this is only possible by walking in the Spirit (vs. 16).  As a woman walks in the Spirit, being obedient to the truth God has given her, she is able to live in freedom, no longer enslaved to her flesh or the world.  Womanhood is not a set of rules that enslave women but rather it is the freedom to display Christ to one another—to glorify God with great joy.

Scripture is clear that creation proclaims the glory of God (Ps. 19).  It is one of the ways God chose to reveal Himself to man (Rom 1:20).  Nature displays God’s glory simply by doing what it was created to do and being what He created it to be.  In the same manner, men and women display God’s glory the most when they are what He made them and when they do what He created them to do. But humanity has a problem that the rest of creation does not; it is human nature to make life about the created rather than the Creator.

Ezekiel 16:1-15 is a perfect example of this dangerous exchange of glory from God to man.  This passage beautifully displays God as compassionate and the giver of abundant life (vss. 6-7).  He cleanses man and gives him dignity as He adorns him with Himself (vss. 8-14). God’s covenant with His people is initiated by Him and He bestows His splendor and beauty to undeserving people.  These truths ought to invoke humility and gratitude.  Yet what results is not a love of God but rather an idolatrous relationship with self and others—“But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot…” (vs. 15).  Verse 14 says beauty is found in the splendor and beauty of the Lord, which He bestows upon man, not from any outward adornment, so man is left with nothing to boast of in himself (1 Peter 3:3).  Outward adornment is often a stumbling block for the gospel.  It can draw more attention to man instead of the glory of God.

The Westminster catechism states that, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” To glorify God means to shine forth His attributes, to showcase Him in all of life.  Like Moses’ face shown the glory of God to the people of Israel, man is called to proclaim God in word and deed to the nations, making Him known.  Enjoyment of God is seen through obedience to His commands (Ps 119:9-16) and trusting Him (Ps 1).

What does all this have to do with biblical womanhood?  God made male and God made female both in His image (Gen 1 & 2).  Each uniquely demonstrates attributes of God and yet together they reveal an aspect of God’s Trinitarian nature.  A woman can’t be more of a woman.  She is as God created her. However, the more she lives by the Spirit, the more her womanhood shines forth.  The most practical way she lives out her womanhood is displaying more of Christ in her. She seeks to walk by the Spirit by glorifying God (to display Him in her life) and enjoying Him (to obey and trust Him).

As a woman grows in her maturity in Christ, she grows in her femininity.  Living out her role as a woman is part of her sanctification.

So to answer the question of a ten-year-old, as women we have relational equality with men.  Our worth is equal before God, whether we are male or female.  But functionally we are different, though one role is not better or worse than another.  It is by God’s design that we glorify Him and enjoy Him forever as women.  So let us walk by His Spirit, motivated by the great love we have received in Christ Jesus, and trust His created order for our lives.  May we delight in Him that we may shine forth His beauty.  Let us put on garments of praise and dance in the freedom we have in Christ.

Rachael Woodworth

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Guest Post, OurSinglePurpose, singleness

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Working Girl

Posted on May 17, 2013 by | 1 Comment

Steve Carell starred in a sit-com about it. Dolly Parton sang about it. Scott Adams gets laughs from it in his Dilbert comic strip. It’s more a rite of passage into adulthood for the millennial generation than marriage and parenthood. It’s work – your job, your gig, your profession, your occupation, your trade. For those of us who find ourselves in the unmarried category, paid employment is inescapably necessary (a girl’s gotta eat), and because of the fall, “it’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it,” as Dolly put it.

work

You may have your dream job. Praise the Lord! On the other hand, you may feel like every workday is a page out of Dante’s Inferno. You could be in your first “grown-up” job, and it’s nothing like what you expected or wanted. You may have sent out your résumé countless times, gone on numerous interviews, and would take any offer that comes your way just to have a steady paycheck. Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle, with no reason to complain about your current position but not exactly loving it, either.

Wherever you find yourself in your career, here are a few thoughts on making the most of it.

  • If you have a job, be thankful for it, even if it isn’t the greatest job ever. It’s a privilege to be able to work, as many of our nation’s unemployed can tell us.
  • Do your job for God’s glory by respecting your supervisors and colleagues, doing your work well and with integrity and exercising your creativity for the welfare of your employer and your community.
  • Don’t view secular work as secular. For the Christian, any legitimate vocation fulfills God’s mandate to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” and can bring him glory. I’ve often struggled with this, seeing my “secular” wage-earning work as somehow inferior to vocational ministry.
  • Be a good steward of your current situation, even while humbly asking God to change your circumstances, knowing that he has you where you are in this season for a purpose.
  • Find your fulfillment in Christ, not in your job, no matter how wonderful or grueling it is.

For a great read on Christians and their work, check out “Making the Most of Christ from 8 to 5” in John Piper’s Don’t Waste Your Life, and have a happy Friday!

 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3.23-24 ‘

Bethany Wester

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Real Life

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fruit of the Spirit is: Kindness

Posted on May 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

kindness_fruitsOSP

We live in a rude, crude world. Kindness is sometimes hard to find in our culture. We all interact daily with people who are inconsiderate, selfish, rude, and just plain ole’ mean!

But…

We serve a kind God.

Don’t we? We see all throughout Scripture the kindness of God. God constantly provided for His children, even after they ran away from Him. He showed kindness to those who were afflicted, poor, and especially to those who feared Him.

God’s character = kindness.

The most amazing part is, God kindness is the characteristic that led God to provide salvation for us. You see, it was His loving kindness that sent Jesus to die on the cross, to arise from the dead, and to have victory over our sin and death!

In Romans 2:4 we see that God’s kindness leads us towards repentance. And we see in Titus 3:4-5: “ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…”

Take a moment and thank God for His kindness in your life.

The only way we can truly understand how to be kind to others is by the example of our Savior, Jesus. Once we recognize the kindness of the Lord in our lives, it spurs us on to spread that kindness.

We must understand the power of kindness.  Mother Teresa said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” Kindness is a language that everyone speaks. No matter the language, social or economical barrier you may have with someone, kindness always trumps it.  We can spread the love of Christ exponentially faster with a kind word, act, or smile.

The Fruits of the Spirit can only be developing in my life if I am pursuing a life like Christ. The goal of Christianity is to be like Jesus…and kindness only points us closer in our walk of sanctification. As we develop our walk in Christ, kindness should grow within us.

May our lives be a shining example of the kindness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I hope this video will challenge you and bring a smile to your face!

Marlana Kaye

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit, OurSinglePurpose, Purpose

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fruit of the Spirit is: Patience

Posted on May 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23

patience_fruitsOSP

Patience is defined as the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. It is also an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.

Throughout our lives we are going to be faced with times that can cause us to be impatient. Actions of others that tend to arouse anger or wrath and cause us to lose our temper, being annoyed by another person’s shortcomings (this is typically a pride thing on our behalf and a whole different post), or restlessness that causes delay…WAITING.

Waiting is the hardest for me, because it is often times out of my control. Whether it’s waiting in traffic, waiting in a line at the grocery store when there are only 2 workers and 8 registers, waiting for an upcoming vacation, waiting on a husband, waiting on a career change, waiting on a family…waiting causes restlessness and impatience within my soul.

Today, as I write this post, marks the 7th anniversary of when I saw my finance Colby the last time before he went to be with the Lord. (I am writing on May 12th, he met the Savior face to face on May 13th). It’s crazy how time flies by. I remember on the 12th day of May in 2006, Colby, my mom, and I were visiting venues and discussing all things weddings. Colby and I were trying to pick a wedding date, a place to live, a place to work, a minister to marry us, decisions that were in that moment of extreme importance. Even then I can look back and remember being impatient. I remember thinking…”God I just want to know where we will end up living, what job I will end up having, and what church we will attend.” Impatience and restlessness were rooted in me even then, in what was one of the happiest times of my life. I would have never dreamed or wished for the events that took place on May 13th, 2006 to have happened. The call came, I went to the hospital and received the horrific news that Colby had passed away and I walked out of the hospital that day a changed person.
Waiting on the Lord and having patience for HIS best and HIS timing is something I am still learning to this day.

As I reflect back on the past 7 years I am reminded that no matter what season of life we are in patience during times of delay is at times directly related to our trust and faith in the Lord. I have since realized that patience or the lack thereof in my life is directly related to how I view the Lord. Do I see Him as the loving Father that He is, pouring out one blessing after another on me, making all things work for my good and loving me so much that He sent His only son to die for me? Do I trust in His perfect plan for me, a plan that He laid out for my life before I was even born? Do I believe that He truly wants and knows what is best for me? And because of that His delays are for my good—to prosper me not to harm me. For if this is my heart’s belief then trusting him with the timing of my desires, trusting Him with my life, and having patience on Him to provide will be easier (I didn’t say easy…just easier). In the book The Fruitful Life, author Jerry Bridges says, “The cure for impatience with the fulfillment of God’s timetable is to believe His promises, obey His will, and leave the results to Him.” At times this is hard for our sinful, controlling nature to do—but I truly believe in my own life, that as long as my focus stays on the character of who God is and how much He loves me then trusting in his timing and throughout His delays will come easier. By keeping my focus and my heart on who Christ is and His sovereignty the fruit of patience in ALL situations…whether it’s waiting for a desire to be met, being patient with a co-worker who doesn’t always treat me right, or being patient on the highway when traffic is at a standstill, will spring forth.

Throughout this OSP Series on the Fruits of the Spirit I have to remind myself of one important truth—in order to produce the Fruits we have to be connected and stay connected to the Vine.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:15

Each OSP writer has done a wonderful job taking a closer look at the first three fruits of the spirit. But at times I feel overwhelmed and defeated. There have been many times I have not loved well, been joyful in all circumstances and felt at peace when life gets tough. In those moments I have to take a soul inventory and ask myself, “Holli in whom are you abiding?” For if the answer is anyone or anything but Jesus then the fruit that I will be producing will not be the fruit that is mentioned in Galatians (apart from Christ I can do nothing). And as a Christian the Spiritual Fruit is what I desire to produce. So if you too have felt discouraged or when you feel discouraged regarding these areas of your life—ask yourself, “In whom or what am I abiding? Also, the realization that no matter what season of life I am in or not in—restlessness and impatience will enter if I don’t trust in the perfect love, character and will of the Father in my life! My prayer is that all of us remember daily just how much the Father loves us and how much He desires to grow us into fruit bearing children of His. What fruit are you producing today? Is it of the Spirit or of the flesh?

 

                                                                                                  Holli Howard

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Confessions of A Single Girl.

Posted on May 13, 2013 by | 1 Comment

by: Erin Gandy; Guest Writer

I thought I would do something a little fun, instead of the continuous serious nature that I’ve had the past two posts.

These may not sound exactly like confessions; some may call them blessings.   We are not guaranteed a husband.  This is not a promise of God.  He promises to sustain us.  And so, while we look to Him to meet all of our needs, there are some confessions/blessings that any single girl can have.  These confessions are mainly mine.  I hope you enjoy!

I am able to eat French fries or Chick-fil-a or a combination of the two at least 4 times a week, if necessary.

I am able to high-tail it to Virginia with a girlfriend to watch a NASCAR race at the Martinsville track. We were probably the only girls by ourselves without a fella, but that’s what we wanted to do.

I am able to travel to fun places – within the boundaries of reasonable travel time and paid time off.  Oh please, can I get back on that ship to the Western Caribbean?

I am able to watch episodes of One Tree Hill and the Newlyweds every single night because I crave it like a boy does SportsCenter. 

I am able to have more Girl’s Nights and keep those friendships intact and refreshed. 

I am able to fully appreciate a 40% off sale at Loft or a 50% off sale at Gap.  Y’all know what I’m talking about!  When the getting is good, you have to go!

I am able to eat rice and beans for consecutive meals.  Though I love my meat, I get just as excited about this!

 I am able to pay for, train and participate in a half marathon! Those things aren’t cheap people!

 I am able to serve my church and go on mission trips to cool places like Prague!

You see, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  Yes, all those things would be fun with a guy alongside. But that’s not God’s plan for me at this moment.  I hope you are able to see some places in your life where God is allowing you to do things NOW!  Live your life now!

Also, Happy Mother’s Day! Thankful for my mama and her example to me of being a godly woman!

Erin Gandy

Erin GandyErin lives in Raleigh, NC and is originally from Darlington, SC.  She graduated from Southeastern with an MA in Women’s Studies and is currently working as a teller at State Employees Credit Union and writing curriculum for Treasuring Christ in Raleigh.  Erin gets excited about Chick-fil-a, Target, God’s Word and teachable moments, running, a beautiful dress, and Duke basketball.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Guest Post, OurSinglePurpose, Purpose

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fruit of the Spirit is: Peace

Posted on May 9, 2013 by | Leave a comment

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23

peace_fruitsOSP

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. – Hymn Written by: Horatio Spadfford

Most of us can point to areas of our lives that cause stress, heartache, and unhappiness. And some of those things we can change; but honestly, many we can’t. Regardless of the situation, anyone can find serenity and calm in Jesus.

My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).

Our culture points us to material things, relationships, accomplishments to bring a sense of security. Too many times we expect marriage, sexual intimacy, physical attractiveness, prosperity, or a successful career to bring us peace. But none of these things can guarantee a sense of inner tranquility. Why? Because each one is subject to change and attempting to find peace through something that is always changing doesn’t end well for anyone. God doesn’t promise us a life that is trouble-free but if we have an intimate relationship with Jesus, we can have a quietness that gives us strength so we are not devastated by adversity and heartache.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7

I am so thankful for this Scripture. It never fails to surpass all comprehension. It’s unchanging—it doesn’t come and go depending on my circumstances and I am so thankful for that.

Your circumstances might be out of control—or maybe you are simply a little disappointed with the way life has turned out for you so far. You might think that more money, a better job, or a certain relationship could make all the difference in how you feel. But I am convinced that even with all those things, there will still be a sense of restlessness. There is only one source of peace— the God who holds the universe together. You and I can focus on our circumstances and try to manipulate them for our own benefit or we can dwell on negative facts and make ourselves literally sick and ill with worry. That’s just going to leave us with unstable and shaky security. But when we choose to find our peace in the Lord, He will comfort us through our heartaches in life and give us confidence and unshakable security.

Now I’m not gonna pretend that I have it all together. I tend to try and seek peace the same way every else does. I expect to find security in jobs, relationships, wealth, material things, appearance, etc. Wealth disappears, jobs end, relationships fail, material things deteriorate and beauty is fleeting. Even good health is not a guarantee. So much of life is uncertain. But there is only one reliable source of supernatural peace. You and I can and will experience inner serenity that isn’t dependent on circumstances and the secret to this amazing tranquility is surrendering to Jesus. Peace with God is the fruit of oneness with Him. Surrender to Him and you can face every day with a powerful sense of indescribable peace.

Karina Lopez

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit, OurSinglePurpose, Purpose

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fruit of the Spirit is: Joy

Posted on May 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

joy_fruitsOSP

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. ~Galatians 5:22-23

Happy Monday, friends! Today I am continuing the Fruit of the Spirit Series, and focusing on joy. Throughout the Bible there are many verses that speak of having joy. However, being joyful is not always easy. Of course when things are going great it is easy to rejoice, but when circumstances are not what you want them to be that command can be hard to obey.

Philippians 4:4 states, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Note, that this verse does not tell us to only be joyful in the good times but to be joyful always no matter what comes our way. All of us have been through seasons where certain struggles tempt us to be less joyful than others. In my own life recently I have had some health problems, and some days I do not feel like having joy in the midst of them. Other examples could be struggling to find joy in your singleness, the mundane of your job, your marriage, etc. Thankfully, we have the word of God that leads, guides, and helps us to find the joy of Christ each and every day in these and any other situations we may face.

An excellent example in Scripture of a person who displayed joy in good times and in difficult ones was Paul. Paul experienced many hardships and sufferings while following Christ, and Scripture tells us that he dealt with a “thorn in the flesh,” but through it all he remained joyful. Paul tells the secret to this joy and contentment in a letter he wrote to the church of Philippi. Philippians 4:11-13 states, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether fed or hungry, whether in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” With Christ, we can endure anything because of His strength that promises to sustain us through whatever comes.

No matter what is going on in and around you, you can still have joy even in the worst of times. That is when Christ can shine the most. It is easy to get caught up in what we want, and be selfish. It is also easy to think that a joyful life is defined by a series of good moments and fulfilled desires. However, life is really defined by the work Jesus Christ is doing in you, and how He allows the “not so good moments” to mature you.

I want to encourage you today to not let your circumstances steal your joy. Be thankful for what God has given you. Spend time reading His word daily and ask him to give you His never-ending joy, and follow His command to rejoice always!  If you do this, the weight of your worries will lessen, and life will suddenly seem brighter. Be encouraged that in his presence their is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11), and remember that God works out ALL things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I am praying for you today as you put into practice this fruit of the spirit and embrace the joy Christ has for you. I ask that you pray the same for me.

                                                                                             Amelia McNeilly

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Fruit of the Spirit is: Love

Posted on May 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

love_fruits_OSP

John Lennon and Paul McCartney once wrote, “All you need is love.” Our culture has a lot to say about love. We use the word rather loosely in ad campaigns and song lyrics, in reference to desserts as well as spouses, from I ♥ NY tee shirts to  ♥☺ bumper stickers. The New Testament has a lot to say about love, too. In fact, agapē and its root word agapaō appear more than 150 times, mostly in the books by John and Paul (the apostles, not the Beatles).

So what is this love that Paul names first among the fruits of the Spirit? It is the distinguishing mark of a Christian. I’m not saying that lightly, either. Jesus uses this word when he defines the greatest commandments as loving God and loving our neighbors (Matt. 22.37-40), and he uses it again to explain that the world will know his followers by their love for one another (John 13.34-35). It is evidence of holiness. As we become increasingly characterized by love, we become more like Jesus, and only followers of Christ can know this love and act on it.

That’s a bold assertion, to say that unbelievers are incapable of experiencing and acting on love. Bold, yes, but biblical. Take a look at what Paul wrote leading up to the verses on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.19-22:

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

Love is a fruit of the Spirit, not the flesh. This is a supernatural, self-sacrificial love, more than mere affection, and without the Spirit we are incapable of knowing and expressing love as the Bible defines it.  

Love always has an object. The “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5 are all rooted in self-love, self-preservation, self-gratification, because left in our sinful nature, we are selfish, and even our “good” deeds are tainted. This is why Paul repeatedly reminded and encouraged his readers to love one another, because we are so prone to seek our own comforts and protection rather than loving God and our neighbors.

But consider a few of the numerous ways the Bible refers to love.

Love the Lord your God…

Love your neighbor as yourself.

For God so loved the world…

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Love…does not seek its own…

True love – biblical love – is rooted in God’s love, and its objects are God and others. Jesus asked the Father that his followers would “see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world…. that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17.24b, 26b). This is the love the Spirit pours out in us – the love God the Father has for God the Son and the Son for the Father. We are given access to this eternal, pure, steadfast love, the love God demonstrated to us through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection (Rom. 5.8). The ESV Study Bible notes that love comes first in the list of the fruits of the Spirit because “it most clearly reflects the character of God.” Only God the Holy Spirit can produce genuine, self-denying love because God is love and he loved us first (1 John 4.8, 19).

In God’s grace, I still battle my selfish nature, and I daily have to confess unloving attitudes, words, and actions. As the Spirit produces fruit in us, though, he strengthens us to deny these selfish tendencies and directs our wills to choose love. Love unites the church (Col. 3.14b). It supersedes all other spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13.1-3, 13). It compels us to fulfill the Great Commission (2 Cor. 5.14). It banishes fear because we now find security in Christ (1 John 4.18). In this first fruit of the Spirit, we demonstrate a love that is categorically different from any other definition of love outside of Christ, and “they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Heavenly Father, we praise you as the only true, pure, and eternal source of love. Thank you for sharing your love with us. Fill us with your Spirit that the world may see your love for us and through us. May we always keep you as our first love. Amen 

Bethany Wester

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit, OurSinglePurpose, Purpose

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fruits of the Spirit

Posted on May 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Hello MAY! Wow. April flew by! I pray that you enjoyed Archive April as much as I did. It was wonderful to reflect back on all of our favorite posts from the past year. The Lord really exceeded our expectations through OurSinglePurpose in it’s first year, and we cannot wait to share with you what He has in store this next year! We are passionate in sharing God’s story while encouraging single ladies to live for the Lord during this season of life!

We are going to study the Fruits of the Spirit in the month of May. The Fruits of the Spirit can be found in Galatians 5:22-25:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

I pray that as we study each of these fruits, we will be compelled to live by the Spirit as we are transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Marlana Kaye

→ Leave a comment

Posted in fruits of the spirit, OurSinglePurpose, singleness

Tagged , , , , , ,