Exhortation: The fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22,23 reads, "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL, against these there is no law". Truly, brothers and sisters, this is a very difficult and big problem for people who want to be in God?s Kingdom. It is so because one may think that having, or following, all these things could mean something else. Now let us look at them one by one and see how to achieve these things, because with God by our side we can make it.

LOVE: Love has got many definitions and many people use the word to express their feelings for many things such as people or animals to mention but two. Now for us, we can define this word as "sincere": it is patient and kind, it does not harm, does not boast and does not envy, it does not fail. We should love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our strength, with all our soul and with all our mind. This is the first commandment. We?ve also been commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves, because the Lord God loves us all ? and wants everyone to come to repentance. Therefore we have to test ourselves, whether our love towards others is as described.

God showed us His greatest love by sending His only son to die for mankind, so that through him, and if they believe, they may inherit God?s Kingdom on this earth. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us love one another, for love comes from God(1 John 4:7-8.Matt.5:43-45).

JOY: "We must go through many hardships to inherit the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Whilst on this journey to the Kingdom, let our hearts be filled with joy, though going through problems. Our Bro. Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians said, "Be joyful always. Pray continually" ? 1 Thess. 5:16,17. Let us try to be like that.

PEACE: Are we at peace, beloved brethren, with one another? Are we at peace in our homes and where we work with our fellow-workers? Are we at peace with our neighbours and all the people around? At times we struggle within our hearts because there may be something wrong. Let our hearts be at peace ? all the time. Whoever does not love, has no joy and is not at peace.

Blessed are the "peacemakers" for they will be called children of God (Matt.5:9) and surely that is what we must be called if truly we are at peace and are trying to make peace where there is disorder and confusion. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since, as members of one body we were called to peace ? Colossians 3:15.

PATIENCE: Where there is love, there must be joy, peace and patience. We have to be patient with everything ? people and even the promises others make ? if we also have faith we will be able to get what we are patiently waiting for. If anyone owes us anything and tries to explain the reason for failure to pay, we must understand. All the same, if they don?t pay, let us not force them to. And let us know that even if we may not owe anything to anyone, we know that we owe the Lord a lot, and because we want him to be patient with us, let us be patient with others, and not be like that unmerciful servant we read of in Matt.18:23-35, because what happened to him at last may also happen to us.

"And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to everyone else and to each other" ? 1 Thess. 5:14,15. Therefore, brethren, we must not be selective, to whom we shall be patient and to whom we shall not be, otherwise we stand no chance of the coming Kingdom.

KINDNESS: Again, we have to be kind to everyone as God is to all of us. "And as God?s people, let us be clothed with compassion, kindness, patience, humility and gentleness. We don?t have to be hard on anyone because to show kindness is to love and care" ? Colossians 3:12-14. Bro. Paul tells us in his letter to Titus that God saved us through His kindness and mercy, from all our sins and other bad things we have done ? Titus 3:3,4. As it is this way, brothers and sisters, let us try to be kind to others also.

GOODNESS: Firstly, God created the heaven and the earth. When they were filled with light, He said "this is good". Again, when he made everything, He said that it was good. Everything He made was good and still good today. That means everything was full of goodness and no bad side could be seen in them. We, being God?s creation, should be good. Therefore, we must be good to all, and at all times let us try to do good to all those we live with, and to those in the outside world. We don?t want to be "trees that bear bad fruit, that will be cut and thrown into fire". Let our good outside appearance match our inside thoughts. Our actions also must be good and pleasing to God. Let our hearts be filled with goodness, so that on that day the Lord will find us blameless and without fault.

FAITHFULNESS: Several people in the Bible are said to be faithful to both God and mankind. Let us take Abraham, for example. He was a God-fearing and faithful man, and was called God?s friend. God promised him a nation of countless people. Though he had no child and was growing older and older, and his wife was barren, he knew God would fulfil the promise. He trusted God and everything he was told. Then in their old age he and his wife had a son, after a long period of promise. Are we faithful in what we do? If we are, do our actions go together with the faith we have? Let us consider Jesus? words in Matthew 17:20, "If you have as little faith as a mustard seed you can tell this mountain to move and it will do so".

GENTLENESS AND LONG SUFFERING Paul, in his first letter to Timothy says, "You must not be violent but gentle in everything you do" (1Tim.3:3). To the Philippians he said, "Let your heart be evident to all and rejoice in the Lord always." (Phil 4:4,5). For sure we know that our Lord is not violent and since we are part of his body, we have to imitate him and his actions. If he were a violent man, he would have acted violently to protect himself from being crucified. But he showed his complete humility and gentleness, he had to die ? as it was in accordance with the mighty Father?s plan. If it will mean suffering and being mistreated, we accept it as Jesus did.

SELF CONTROL: We should always ask ourselves these questions: Are we self-controlled or do we make quick reactions when someone says or does something bad to us? Are we short-tempered? If we are like that, then our Christian discipleship is nothing. How do we show the world that we belong to the Lord when we are short tempered, or not self-controlled? Brothers and Sisters, there is nothing we can do to please God if we have none of these good fruits of the Spirit.

Bro. Silas K. Chishimba (Mufulira, Zambia)