Strength to Bear Whatever

 The Fruit of the Spirit ~ It's What You Are That Counts

by Richard W. Offill

"The joy that God's people experience throughout the centuries didn't make the pain or the suffering and hardship go away. But because joy is the result of faith and hope, it gave them strength to bear whatever happened to them."

The Special Light

 The Fruit of the Spirit ~ It's What You Are That Counts

by Richard W. Offill

"Like all the other fruit of the Spirit, joy shines best in the worst of times. I was in a jewelry store buying a new battery for my watch, and I couldn't help but notice the beautiful diamonds and other precious stones on display. What accentuated their beauty and sparkle was the special light that was shining directly on them, in contrast to the darkened background."

The Petals Unfold Together

 The Fruit of the Spirit ~ It's What You Are That Counts

by Richard W. Offill

 

"A potato chip commercial famous in the past challenged, "I bet you can't eat just one." So it is with the fruit of the Spirit. A person can't have just one. It will help us to think of these spiritual qualities as petals on a flower. Although the blooming of the flowers is a process, the petals unfold together. We may not come to maturity in these qualities all at once, but they will develop in tandem with each other." Pg.14

Two Challenges of the Spiritual Life

 

 The Fruit of the Spirit ~ It's What You Are That Counts

by Richard W. Offill

 

"Like any garden, the spiritual life has two challenges. One is to fight the weeds, and the other is to nurture the fruit. We nurture the fruit of the Spirit through our devotional life. That's what keeps the fruit of the Spirit alive and well. Through prayer, we communicate with God, and through His Word, He communicates with us. Without the devotional life, the fruit of the Spirit becomes stunted, and then the cares of this life may simply choke it out."