Fruits of the Spirit

Rachel,

This is a little compilation post, a look back over a term of reflecting on the fruits of the spirit with Siân, one per week for all eight weeks.

This whole process has made us consider and dwell upon different characteristics of life in the Spirit in new ways, and it has taught us much more about what it is to live a life of faith than we could have anticipated: by putting everything in one place, we invite you to look back on all that we have learned over the past couple of months.

(We would like to do a similar thing next term, but aren’t quite sure what just yet…. suggestions?)

The fruits of the spirit

(1) Gentleness – as refinement and humility

(2) Self-control – as God’s changing us and our taking courage

(3) Patience – with the day and with the season of life

(4) Joy – being rooted in hope

(5) Peace – like a river, from God’s presence

(6) Faithfulness – as keeping in step

(7) Kindness – God’s kindness in grace

(8) Love – only love today

A missing piece…

You may have noticed that while there are eight weeks of our terms here in Cambridge, there are in fact nine fruits of the spirit named in Galatians. This last week after term has been the unofficial week of goodness. Here are two extracts from the Narnia books by way of reflection:

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…
“Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”      (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”    (Prince Caspian)

The goodness of God is not tameness, rather, it is an inexhaustible richness which we becomes greater and greater as we grow.

Praise be to God.

fruits

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23