Adorning the walls of our sanctuary are the words: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These virtues describe the essence of Christian character and the flavour of the Christian community; they are “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22–23).
Often we read the description and say something like “I should really be more patient.” But, as any one who has tried will tell you, we don’t get more patient by trying very hard to be patient. As Wright puts it “If you suspect that someone who is being kind to you is having to try very hard to do it, the kindness itself loses its flavour”.[1]
We grow in patience and the other virtues when we keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). In the Wesleyan tradition we speak of the “means of grace” (prayer, fasting, worship, studying scripture etc.) as ways to “keep in step”. Worship is today’s “means of grace”. The chief characteristic of those who worship in the Spirit is joy – joy in spite of circumstances or newspaper headlines. Joy because the Son of God loved us and gave himself for us (Gal. 2:20).
God Bless, Sean
[1] Wright, T. (2004). Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (p. 72). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.