Good morning. Galatians 5:22-23 are familiar verses, known for revealing the “Fruit of the Spirit.”
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As we prepare our spirits for worship this Lord’s Day, I would like to have us consider how the Fruit of the Spirit may also be recognized as the Fruit of Worship.
The Fruit of the Spirit is not manufactured by believers. The Fruit of the Spirit is the natural outcome of a Spirit filled life. When the Spirit of God is in control, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are natural revelations of His presence.
Consider with me for a moment how these spiritual realities revealed in the lives of believers impact our worship of the Lord. I would suggest that it is absolutely reasonable to assume that when love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are present, our hearts-spirits-minds-voices are more easily blended in Christian unity and purpose. When Christian people are of one mind and spirit, focused upon God and God alone, worship is sweet and powerful.
I suppose that another way of looking at it would be to recognize that if the opposite of one or more examples of Fruit of the Spirit are present, say…hatred instead of love or anger instead of peace or rudeness instead of kindness…then disunity and strife are sure to follow. How can the Body of Christ lift up worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24) when our spirits are fouled by such human weakness?
As we prepare for worship today let’s pray over the Fruit of the Spirit and how each example impacts our worship experience. With our spirits filled with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control our hearts will be free to lovingly unite and bring to God the best worship possible.
Enjoy fruitful worship today!
Vern