links in a chain

"The laws of our holy religion are so far from clashing and interfering, that one Christian duty very much furthers and promotes another. The fruits of the Spirit are like links in a chain--one draws on another; and it is so in this; many other graces contribute to the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."

a disposition to strive against and strength

"Meekness, in the school of Christ, is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22,23. It is a grace wrought by the Holy Spirit both as a sanctifier and as a comforter in the hearts of all true believers, teaching and enabling them at all times to keep their passions under the conduct and government of religion and right reason. I observe that it is worked in the hearts of all true believers, because, though there are some whose natural temper is unhappily sour and harsh, yet wherever there is true grace, there is a disposition to strive against, and strength in some measure to conquer such a disposition. And though in this, as in other graces, an absolute sinless perfection cannot be expected in this present state, yet we are to labor after it, and press towards it."

works are not the goal

"Works are not the goal. If you have only works then you will have only the phoney fruit... It has all the appearance of the real fruit (good works that spring from humanism or selfish or legalistic motives look convincingly like the real thing), and it may convince others or fool even ourselves what fine people we are, but it doesn't fool the One who looks directly into our hearts, not for one moment. God looks at our being, not at our doing. The two need to be in harmony. ... To spend your time putting on a show may have short-term benefits, like making people think you are good, or it might save you the aggravation of having to deal with criticism or rejection from those you live alongside, but in the long term it will breed anger and resentment and emptiness. That's what going for works without faith will bring--a bitter harvest, and not the fruit of the Spirit."

joy comes from serving in love

"Serving comes from loving; it is love's expression. Serving that is not inspired by love yields no joy. Love that does not serve is not love at all. The measure of self denial that one is ready to suffer is the measure of the love that is in one's heart. Love that will not sacrifice is only a sentiment, a fair blossom from which no fruit comes. Love is ready always for serving."

spiritually-balanced discernment of joyfulness

"Surely the apostle's [Paul] greatest appeal and inspiration is in his wholesome, ever-cheerful, spiritually-balanced discernment of the basic joyfulness and goodness of the real meaning of life in relation to God, in spite of all its present storms and shadows and valleys of sorrow and care!"

rejoicing 'in the Lord'

"'Rejoice... and again I say, rejoice', he [Paul] reiterated in Philippians 4:4. But here and in Philippians 3:1 we note that the kind of rejoicing is qualified. It is the rejoicing 'in the Lord'. This phrase makes a difference. This is a rejoicing unrelated to worldly affairs; one that is at the foundation of being; one that has depth and height; one that stands back from the frittering worries and incidents of life. It was the kind of rejoicing that martyrs experienced in their suffering for their faith: a steady, exalted spirit that drew upon divine comfort, power and hope."

joy is found in God

"We are accustomed to say that the only true, deep, unfailing joy is that which we may find in God. The Bible has many promises of happiness, but they all point to spiritual and eternal sources. We read of the joy of the Lord, of rejoicing in God; Christ promises his own joy to his followers. Joy, therefore, is the inheritance of the Christian, --he has a right to claim it."

If the Lord so wills, May's posts will be centered around a part of the Fruit of the Spirit--joyfulness

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us... Love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving he Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality... Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ... If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." {Romans 12:3-6, 9-13, 15-16, 18, 21}

"There is to be more than growth in knowledge and in numbers within ecclesial life. Our characters must increase and develop and our personality traits often must be modified. The ecclesia with all its component parts, is supplied that we, individually and collectively, might come 'unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ'. Love and persistence, forgiveness, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, wisdom, judgment, holiness, justice, integrity are all to improve for we are to 'grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ'. This is a vital area of growth, for the saints of all ages are to be joint rulers of the world with Christ."

"The Gospel reveals that Christ is set upon winning his victory in each individual heart, so that step by step a man's life becomes love-mastered and love-driven."

"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it. When our virtues become more mature, we shall not be more tolerant of evil; but we shall be more tolerant of infirmity, more hopeful for the people of God, and certainly less arrogant in our criticisms."

"Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart."

"For all the Law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

"Who ever attains to this divine ideal of loving others as themselves? --of taking on all the joys and burdens of others, and sharing everything we hope with them without restraint? But this is the idea to which we must constantly strive to bring ourselves."

"Thankfulness is a powerful incentive to do what is right, and to resist what is wrong. It is a major ingredient of our love for God. It is a wonderful remembrance--keeping the mind fixed on God and His goodness."

"Thanksgiving is a beautiful frame of mind--healthy, wholesome, upbuilding, beautifying, inspiring to others. It leads to all other beauties of mind. It drives away all contrary characteristics: self-pity, envy, dissatisfaction, dissension, criticism of others. True, humble thankfulness to God for His infinite patience and goodness makes us want to help others, not criticize and condemn."

"The fruit of the Spirit is love--temperance, kindness, longsuffering, meekness, goodness, joy, peace, and faith are the flavors, textures, colors: different and detectable but all part of one fruit. Remember one thing: fruit is not magic. It does not appear overnight: growth is real but slow. Protection and cultivation are vital. Setbacks there will be. Waiting and working are not always contradictory. Let us never lose heart. It is, after all, the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is God-created, not man-made."

*God willing, November's posts will be focused on praise and thankfulness.

"We should study 1 Corinthians 13 repeatedly--not as a beautiful and inspiring poem, but as a practical, down-to-earth workbook. This is the way all true children of God act and react: the only way of life and divine fellowship."

"My mind was ruled with small cares to-day,
And I said pettish words, and did not keep
Long-suffering patience well; and now how deep
My trouble is for this sin! In vain I weep
For foolish words never can unsay.

Yet not in vain, oh, surely not in vain!
This sorrow must compel me to take heed:
And surely I shall learn how much I need
Thy constant strength my own to supersede,
And all my thoughts to patience to constrain.

Yes, I shall learn at last though I neglect
Day after day to seek my help from Thee.
Oh, aid me, that I may always recollect
This gentle-heartedness and oh, correct
Whatever else of sin Thou seest in me."

"Now is our opportunity for exercising ourselves in divine requirements. When Christ is in the earth, our one-time thirsty brother will not need a cup of cold water at our hands, our one-time ill-clad sister will not need our clothing. Too late will it be for our perishing neighbor to hear the gospel message from our lips. The door is open to us in these matters whilst Christ tarries. Woe unto us if we are not now busying ourselves in his concerns. We shall find to our cost that he who has opened so that no man can shut, will, in the day of his coming, shut so that no man can open."

"They who have kept their sympathies awake,
And scatter joy for more than conscience sake;
Steadfast and tender in the hour of need,
Gentle in thought, benevolent in deed;
Whose looks have power to make dissension cease,
Whose smiles are pleasant, and whose words are peace;
They who have lived as harmless as a dove,
Teachers of truth, and ministers of love."