I love how the Fruit of the Spirit doesn't depend, in any way, on circumstance. We always think of the conditions under which we would be happy, the things that would make us happier. "If we only had this..."
"If I didn't have to do that!"
"If only this or that person weren't so difficult!"
In distinction to this the Fruit of the Spirit is offered to us in spite of all difficulty, all trouble and all annoyances. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and none of them are dependant upon how well our lives are going (by our perspective), or the things or people we would would change, they are completely independent of all of those circumstances.
What the fruit of the Spirit does depend on is what any fruit depends on: The branch on which fruit would grow MUST be attached to the vine. No fruit will grow on a branch that is disconnected. Yet, to the one who is connected to the vine there is no circumstance that can touch, change or agitate our enjoyment of the fruit, and that is the goal of our threefold enemy (the World; the Flesh and the Devil) in every situation, to get our eyes off of Jesus. Let us fix our eyes on Him for He is not only the author, but also the perfecter of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
ReplyDeleteLook full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Such encouragement - thank you!
xopp