A Thought For The Week Of March 18

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." (Gal 5:22-23) Having faith should make a difference in our lives. If it doesn't - what's the point? If we're just the same after we come to faith as we were before we came to faith, then what's the point? Of course, we shouldn't be the same. Our faith calls us to transformation; Christ calls us to new life. This "fruit of the Spirit" that Paul describes is a wonderful way of defining the type of change we should see in ourselves. It isn't that we'll be perfect at any of these things. But they're like fruits just beginning to bud. They grow, and they grow and they grow. Sometimes they fall off. Then it all starts over again. The point is that these are the qualities that should mark a life of faith. In ever-increasing abundance we should be displaying these qualities - and calling to account those who turn away from them (whether people of faith or not) not by condemning or juding them, but by showing these qualities in the greatest abundance to them. That's setting an example. That's bearing witness to Christ with the power of our lives and not just our words. May the fruit of the Spirit burst forth from us all! Have a great week!