Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

September 28, 2021

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”

Galatians 5:22-23

Imagine living a life that is filled with celebration after celebration, a life that sees the good in another no matter how deep it is hidden beneath layers of dust from the journey of life. Jesus was born into a darkened world, a time of upheaval, abject poverty, and people vying for power over those who had no voice. Life can be hard no matter the era in which we live yet there is a way to live that transcends the challenges that may hinder our path in life, setting us free to live a life that has been offered to us from the time we were conceived. “There is power, wonder-working power in the precious Blood of the Lamb.” (Angela Primm, “There is Power in the Blood”) If you are growing weary and tired of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, or just the weight of living everyday life, accept a new way to live through Jesus Christ; instead of getting all wound up in animosity and all those things that the world seems to have mastered, seek those things that are above. The contrast is stark and life-giving. When we celebrate the lives of others we are sharing the “fruit of the Spirit.” When we forgive as we have been forgiven, we are sharing the “fruit of the Spirit.” When we accept the “wonder-working power” through Jesus we accept a new way of life. When we see all life as precious, and celebrate each day’s blessing as truly a gift from God, we are living the Fruits of the Spirit. If you are tired of being tired, and all stressed out over being stressed out, consider the gift that God offers you today. Living in the “Spirit” is nothing more than living your life in the forgiving and redeeming grace of Jesus, and sharing the same with all those around you. It is far more difficult to be angry and all bent out of shape about the world than to live out the fruits of the Spirit every moment of every day. Impossible you say, well it is also impossible to bring creation into existence, but it happened, by the very hand of God. That same power is with you and seeks nothing less for you than to accept the freedom to celebrate the “fruits of the Spirit” giving rest to your weary soul.  May the Lord help you to live life filled with “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.