
This month, six pastors from our area are swapping pulpits on Sunday nights. Each participating church gets to hear a different preacher on successive Sunday nights in July. Last Sunday night after services, we gathered at a local eatery to exchange experiences. One of the guys related the introduction he received at the church he visited. Paraphrased, the intro went something like “some pastors in our association are swapping pulpits; so we get to hear some other good preachers without having to pay them. Tonight our good for nothing preacher is . . .” I guess this is one case where it is OK for a pastor to be good for nothing.
As we examine the second triad of the fruit of the Spirit, we find three qualities that serve our fellow man: patience, kindness, and goodness. These qualities spring from the spirit and manifest themselves in visible ways to the people with whom we come in contact on a daily basis . . . IF we are under the Spirit’s influence. An absence of these qualities indicates a life under control of the flesh and resisting the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . patience, kindness, goodness . . . Galatians 5:22b
Patience is state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation. It is the ability to endure long periods of testy circumstances and prolonged exposure to trying individuals without giving out, giving up, or giving in.
Kindness is an event or activity which is useful or benevolent. It is making a positive contribution to one’s society, family, or community, or even to another individual.
Goodness is a demonstration of positive moral qualities of the most general nature. It is the innate quality of character that leads one behave rightly in all circumstances of life.
Patience enables us to endure hardship, kindness empowers us to be a blessing to others, and goodness exhibits integrity and progress in becoming more like Jesus.
Again, I remind you that these qualities do not appear on their own, nor do we conjure them up through some inner strength or personal will power. I can no more make myself patient, kind, and good than I can make myself tall, handsome, and hairy. I can only experience these qualities as I continually yield myself to the Holy Spirit.
Allow me to suggest some disciplines that expose us to the One whose fruit we long to bear:
MEDITATE – The Bible is high octane food for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Meditating on it assures that we do not hurriedly “scarf down” Scripture, but rather allowing opportunity to digest it and assimilate it into our lives.
MEMORIZE – locking God’s Word into our hearts and minds arms us with powerful Scripture at a moment’s notice. Like a B-12 shot for the Holy Spirit, recalled Scripture fortifies the Spirit’s influence in our lives at a time and point of need.
MAINTAIN – Rather than having a prayer TIME, why not try a prayer LIFE. We benefit from setting aside a specific time a place to meet with God, but our connection to Him need not end there. Rather than saying, “Amen” and arising from your place of prayer, leave your prayer open and your conversation with God ongoing. When a challenging situation presents itself, you can ask the Holy Spirit to allow you to respond properly and bear His fruit in you.
The fruit is not ours to produce but ours to bear. We can’t be patient, kind, and good for nothing, but we can through the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.






