Choose JoySample

DAY 31 - FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Reflection: Paul’s letter to the Galatians is easily his most strongly worded as he seeks to deter them from trying to make their way to God through the law, disregarding the grace by which they began.

So towards the end of the letter, when he is providing instructions for Christian living, such as our passage today, he certainly isn’t providing them with yet another law. Instead, he is addressing the deep inner spring by which we live.

Immediately before his reference to the fruit of the Spirit, Paul lists all the things not to do as Christians. He calls them plural ‘acts of the flesh’ which could also be read ‘works, tasks (from the Greek word erga) of the sinful human nature (from the word sarx).

In contrast, we are called to the singular ‘fruit’ which has nine attributes – including joy – which is not sourced in ourselves, human effort or action, but in the Spirit. Paul isn’t giving us work to do; he’s reminding us to live out of the Spirit’s presence and power. When we do, this remarkable fruit will grow with all its wonderful flavours, joy next to love in significance.

When we think of the fruit of the orange tree, we might say it is juicy, sweet, orange, refreshing, healthy, and more. When we think of the fruit of the Spirit, well, Paul has told us what to look for.

Choose joy: To choose joy, we will stop working on fleshly pursuits and pursue the Spirit instead.