Pastor David’s devotional for October 12, 2022

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

What is faith? Take a moment and think about how to respond.

In the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, the author defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. What is faith?

During my sermon last Sunday, I gave an image of faith. I had us imagine a rope made up of strands woven together. The rope represents faith, and faith is made up of many strands. The three biggest strands are named trust, hope and joy. Faith includes trust, hope and joy all woven together—trust strengthens hope, hope increases joy, and joy builds more trust. Faith includes trust, hope and joy. This is one way to think about faith.

Faith is also a way of knowing something to be true. Faith begins with believing and as faith grows faith leads to “Blessed Assurance.” What we once believed we now know beyond any shadow of doubt.

Faith is also a way of living. We live the life of faith. As Christians, we call this discipleship—we follow Jesus. How would you describe the life of faith? What is central to your life of faith? Who do you know who emulates the life of faith? What is it about the person that you would say he or she emulates the life of faith?

In Galatians 5:22-23, St. Paul gave us a description of the Christian life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Paul called these the Fruit of the Spirit–qualities the Holy Spirit is growing in each one of us. When we first become a Christian, we may have only a small measure of some of the Fruit of the Spirit. But as we grow in our faith, we grow also in the measure we have. For instance, when I first became a Christian, I had a measure of kindness. But it was not a big measure of kindness so when folks would describe me, kindness was probably not part of the description. As I grew in my faith, I grew in the measure of kindness, so that now people do use the word kindness to talk about me. And since God is not finished with me yet, I am still growing in the Fruit of the Spirit. So, for example, I am joyful and kind and patient, but I am not so sure gentleness describes me—God still has work to do in me!

Which of the Fruit of the Spirit can you see at work in the life of the person you named as emulating the faith? Which of the Fruit of the Spirit do you have in more than a small measure? Which of the Fruit of the Spirit would you hope to one day have more of?

As you continue to live the life of faith, God continues to grow you in faith until that day when you will be well described as a person who is loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, good and faithful and gentle, demonstrating self-control. This is not our doing—this is the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people who are living the life of faith.

God bless you and I hope to see you soon,
Pastor Dave