THE PURPOSEFUL GIFT
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. Gal. 5:22, 23, R.S.V.
When it's time to give someone a present, we usually have to decide between getting something that person would use or something he or she would really like. How exciting it is to find a gift that fits both categories. This is especially true when it comes to giving to our children.
We read in Luke 11:13, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (R.S.V.). One of the best gifts that God could give us is His Spirit. And it is both useful and wonderfully pleasing.
First, let us examine the usefulness of this extraordinary gift. Speaking of it, Jesus said, "I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convince the world of the meaning of sin, of true goodness and of judgment...for he will draw on my truth and reveal it to you" (John 16:7-14, Phillips). How wonderfully practical! And we are even told how it works. The Spirit will draw on the truth in Jesus and reveal it to us. What is the truth in Jesus" "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (chap. 14:9, R.S.V.).
What revealed qualities of the Father are inherent in the gift of the Spirit? Paul enumerated them: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." In these very qualities we find the second aspect of God's incredible gift: delightfulness.
Not only is the fruit of the Spirit a positive statement of God's posture toward us, it is a remarkable declaration of His intention to share Himself with us! When that revelation begins to penetrate our hearts, what tremendous delight begins to flood our being! Our God is so good, so unendingly kind and gentle, so awesomely patient and loving, so deliberately restrained when we act foolishly, that we cannot doubt His love. We bask in His joy over us. We trust in His faithfulness. And share in His peace.
That astounding gift that the Father has so sensitively chosen for us is meant to become a very part of our own being. We may partake of its richness. We may, in fact, continually share its abundance with others--which makes it all the more delightful!
Thank You, Father!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. Gal. 5:22, 23, R.S.V.
When it's time to give someone a present, we usually have to decide between getting something that person would use or something he or she would really like. How exciting it is to find a gift that fits both categories. This is especially true when it comes to giving to our children.
We read in Luke 11:13, "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (R.S.V.). One of the best gifts that God could give us is His Spirit. And it is both useful and wonderfully pleasing.
First, let us examine the usefulness of this extraordinary gift. Speaking of it, Jesus said, "I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convince the world of the meaning of sin, of true goodness and of judgment...for he will draw on my truth and reveal it to you" (John 16:7-14, Phillips). How wonderfully practical! And we are even told how it works. The Spirit will draw on the truth in Jesus and reveal it to us. What is the truth in Jesus" "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (chap. 14:9, R.S.V.).
What revealed qualities of the Father are inherent in the gift of the Spirit? Paul enumerated them: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." In these very qualities we find the second aspect of God's incredible gift: delightfulness.
Not only is the fruit of the Spirit a positive statement of God's posture toward us, it is a remarkable declaration of His intention to share Himself with us! When that revelation begins to penetrate our hearts, what tremendous delight begins to flood our being! Our God is so good, so unendingly kind and gentle, so awesomely patient and loving, so deliberately restrained when we act foolishly, that we cannot doubt His love. We bask in His joy over us. We trust in His faithfulness. And share in His peace.
That astounding gift that the Father has so sensitively chosen for us is meant to become a very part of our own being. We may partake of its richness. We may, in fact, continually share its abundance with others--which makes it all the more delightful!
Thank You, Father!
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