The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

King James Version (KJV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and your neighbour as yourselves. The most important of the fruit of the spirit is LOVE. Loving God means loving others. You must love every one including those that hate you. Matthew 5:43-48Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ...

I once read a story in the Foxe's book of martyrs where one of the christian who was put in jail awaiting trial to be condemned to death miraculously found the door of the prison he was open and fled. Not long after, the prison guard noticed him missing and porsued  after him, it was winter time. The christian ran until he came to a frozen lake. He was able to carefully and successfully crossed the lake. But when the prison guard attempted to do the same, some part of the ice broke and the guard almost fell in, He shouted for help and the christian insteading of escaping went back out of love to rescue the guard despite the cost.

Needless to say, the guard though very grateful, was obligated by duty to turn him in or risk being killed himself for letting a prisioner escape. The christian was later executed for his refusal to renounce Jesus. Do you have such love for your fellow neighbour?. It is not easy, but God's grace through His Holy Spirit will enable you. I will share a story a found at crossroad.to About a Christian father's choice. (All done in LOVE). May you be richly blessed and inspired to do the same
                                   
                                   A FATHER'S CHOICE

     AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR  THE EVENING, BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT   EVENING.  IN THE INTRODUCTION,   THE PASTOR TOLD THE CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS ONE OF HIS   DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE  SERVICE.

      WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.   "A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST," HE BEGAN, "WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET  BACK TO THE SHORE.  THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER  WAS   AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE  WERE   SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED."

      THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS  WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN, LOOKING SOMEWHAT  INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.  THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, "GRABBING A  RESCUE   LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE:  TO WHICH BOY HE WOULD THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.  HE ONLY HAD  SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.  THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND  HE   ALSO KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.  THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD  NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES.

      AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!' HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE  TO   HIS SON'S FRIEND.  BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TO  THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED."

      BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW,  ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S  MOUTH.

      "THE FATHER," HE CONTINUED, "KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH  JESUS   AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN   ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS.  THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE  SON'S   FRIEND.  HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US.  OUR   HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE   SAVED.  I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF  THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE."

      WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE   FILLED THE ROOM.

      THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON   WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END.  HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.

      WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.

       "THAT WAS A NICE STORY," POLITELY STATED ONE OF THE BOYS, "BUT I DON'T  THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN  HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN."

      "WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE," THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT  HIS WORN BIBLE.  A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE, HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID,  "IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT?   BUT I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS  SON FOR ME.

      YOU SEE --- I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND."

Always follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. You will never be wrong. I will continue with the other fruit of the spirit in other blogs. God bless you.