September 12, 2022 - Galatians 4-6

The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (5:22,23). Paul writes that these are gifts of the Spirit, that is, they are the natural fruits of a Spirit filled life. As children of God, we come by these attributes naturally. They are what we are in Christ. Yet, it seems good to keep these traits in mind and to strive for them, or certainly strive to see strengthened what is already ours. That's a good striving to begin with on this Monday morning. Agreeing with Paul, Peter similarly wrote, regarding Christian virtues: “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

fill me with life anew,

that I may love the way you love,

and do what you would do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

until my heart is pure,

until my will is one with yours,

to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

so shall I never die,

but live with you the perfect life

for all eternity. --Edwin Hatch (1878)