“Every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit” (Mt. 7:17). If I am in Christ and Christ is in me, then my life should be characterized by the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. The first on the list is love. In Webster’s Dictionary, the primary definition of love […]
Peace, perfect peace—in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. Peace, perfect peace—by thronging duties pressed? To do the will of Jesus, this is rest. Peace, perfect peace—with sorrows surging round? On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found. Peace, perfect peace—with loved ones far away? In Jesus’ keeping we […]
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…longsuffering…” The Spirit’s fruit is beautiful to the Father. As He sees more of the image of His beloved Son in redeemed sinners He can only be pleased. What greater gift can He give to redeemed men and women than this likeness? It is the character of the Lord […]
“The fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness” (Gal. 5:22). Here is the only time the word chrestotes is translated gentleness. The word occurs seventeen times in our New Testament (ten times as a verb, and seven times as an adjective) and is usually translated into English by the word kindness. The word is used in relation […]
Who would have thought that a small word like this would be the name of a fruit that makes such an immense impact for good on a Christian’s life and then on the lives of others? And who would think that living without that resource would be so weakening to the inner man? David is […]
A lone warrior stood in a field of lentils and readied himself to fight as an army of soldiers rushed toward him. This was no ordinary field of lentils, and this was no ordinary warrior. His name was Shammah, and the lentils belonged to his commander and king, David. The king had commanded his army […]
In this age when the world is so easily accessible—we can have what we want when we want it—this fruit of the Holy Spirit so needs to be displayed in our lives. The word “temperance” simply means self control. Marvin Vincent in his book, Word Studies in the New Testament, gave this definition, “holding in […]
The virtue of meekness (proates), in its simplest use, denotes “gentleness.” It is a timely topic for today as vengeance reciprocates and world leaders posture and grandstand. In Scripture, meekness/gentleness has a “fuller, deeper significance…it is an inwrought grace of the soul…and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God.”1 Toward our brethren, […]
What does the word “goodness” mean? Goodness may be understood as a constant condition of the heart that moves a person to do what is good. When it is said that a person has “goodness” it means they have a propensity for doing good; it is like a spring of water within them, welling up […]