Fruit of the Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.   So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.   For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.   The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.  Galatians 5:13-26

When I was a little girl, I learned about the fruit of the Spirit – the true freedom in Christ. I didn’t understand it then.  How ironic that I now teach it! (Family law students, this one is for you).

Fruit of the Spirit

As Apostle Paul (in his letter to the Galatians above) so accurately noted, there is no freedom in this world without Christ.  How we all long to be free!  Free from pain, free from conflict, free from evil!

We are all called to be free.  But we must not misuse our freedom.  True freedom is found by living in the Spirit, which is contrary to the human flesh.

The Prison of Divorce

To many, divorce is a prison – chains of pain, anger, fear and regret.  Broken dreams, emotional wreckage – uncertainty of what’s next.  I know it is a heavy burden to bear.   I’ve only been on the outside as a divorce attorney, and even I couldn’t handle it.  I’ve cried for my clients.  Pleaded with God for my clients.

I know you are bearing a heavy burden.

Freedom

In the midst of this storm, I want to share something with you that I’ve shared with many clients.  There is freedom that no broken vow, no sleepless night, and no court ruling – can ever take away.  And that is the freedom only found in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

You don’t even have to do anything – because it’s already been done.   You can experience it right here on earth, in the middle of your worst night.

Fruit of the Spirit

His Spirit residing in us gives us freedom – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I hope that when you are going through the storms, you will choose to use these gifts God gave you, through His Son, Jesus.

Love

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4: 7-12

Joy

This one can be tough.  I admit that this fruit is the one that I struggled with for a long time (and it’s no wonder – I’ve been a divorce attorney for over 25 years!)

I’ll share a verse that I cling to for my joy.

…the joy of the Lord is your strength.  Nehemiah 8:10

Joy isn’t happiness.  The loss of a marriage can steal your happiness, but you can still have joy in the Lord.  This isn’t a concept that is easily explained.

How do Christians remain unshaken? Because we trust in Jesus.  His birth, death and resurrection were prophesied for thousands of years prior to it happening.  He keeps His promises.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

There is joy in my heart, even if it’s completely broken by the evil in this world.  ]

Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

There is no permanent peace in the world.  At some point, someone or something will take away worldly peace.  But in Jesus, you have forever peace.

There is no pit deep enough that His love isn’t deeper still.  Corrie Ten Boom

Patience

Divorce isn’t a quick process.  Some divorces last over 10 years!  Why is my divorce taking so long?

“He makes all things beautiful in His time” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Kindness

Be kind to yourself now.  Rest – as Elijah did!

Elijah was afraid^[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ⁶ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” ⁸ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. ⁹ There he went into a cave and spent the night. 1 Kings 19

Goodness

No one is good.  Not one.  But God is good.  All the time.  And we praise.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

Faithfulness

“He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

God is always faithful, even when we are faithless, because He cannot deny Himself.

Gentleness

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5

Meek is not weak.

Self-Control

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7

Freedom

I have found freedom in Christ.  I pray that you will too.