8. Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
In the first few weeks of my arriving in Plainfield, these “fruit of the Spirit” were in a lesson. As I was brand new to Christian Science, they felt like a good check for myself to make sure my motives and actions were right. Initially it was with only the most basic understanding of each “fruit” yet reading this week’s lesson I realized that because of all I am learning here, each one has a deeper meaning to me now.
- Love: To fully love, which means to express divine Love, including the moral courage to cast out error.
- Joy: To have the utmost joy in listening to God, and taking action as He directs.
- Peace: To seek God’s presence, free of counterfeit, hypocrisy, and expectation (other than for good!).
- Longsuffering: To walk with God through every bit of resistance, always expecting only good and never doubting Him.
- Gentleness: To never be holding so hard to whatever I am thinking or doing that I don’t hear God’s call to do something else, or to help someone in need.
- Goodness: To know that all good is of God, and not in trying to make people (or myself) happy.
- Faith: Knowing “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15) The victory is His as well!
- Meekness: Florence Robert’s article Meekness and Restoration really set me straight on meekness. I am grateful to fit into whatever role He would have me fill.
- Temperance: “Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.” (Webster’s 1828) To not get worked up by what human mind and material senses are saying, but to “Stand porter at the door of thought” (S&H, p. 392) and “lean not unto [my] own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) but rely on God for all.
I am so grateful for how each new lesson here serves to refine and purify the silver of my understanding. Thank you!