September 19, 2025 | Be God's Family
Cultivating a Christlike Character
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-26(NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Devotional
In this passage, the Apostle Paul highlights that true transformation and personal development in a Christ follower’s life comes from a relationship with the Holy Spirit. The “Fruit of the Spirit” consists of nine qualities that reflect the very nature of Christ. Each fruit plays an essential role in how we show up and interact with God as well as those around us in our day to day lives.
Love: It is selfless and unconditional; it reflects the love that God has for us. If we embody that love, then we mirror God’s heart to the world.
Joy: Paul said that joy flows from the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is optimistic and confident in God. Just as Christ endured pain upon the cross, because of the joy of being reunited with God, the Spirit enables us to rejoice in knowing God. (Heb 12:2)
Peace: Having a relationship with God guards our hearts against things that cause anxiety, conflict and worry. Every human heart yearns for peace. Reminder, Jesus promised his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.” (John 14:27)
Forbearance/Patience: As we walk with Christ, we become able to endure trials, tribulations, and difficulties better than we could before. Just as Christ faced the hardship on the cross without resentment towards God, the Spirit puts an ability to patiently endure within all of us.
Kindness: Just as Christ risked it all to be kind to us, the Spirit works within us to uplift and support one another in Christ. We can do this by demonstrating genuine care and concern for others.
Goodness: Paul wrote that the Spirit would produce goodness in all of us. By reflecting a moral integrity, that goodness drives us to do what is right and beneficial for others. This then showcases the righteousness of God to others.
Faithfulness: If we are committed to God, then we as faithful people, keep our promises, are dependable, trustworthy and are true to our word. The Spirit makes us faithful despite our external and internal pressures.
Gentleness: Gentleness is the Fruit of the Spirit that demands the most from us. It requires us to have humility, sacrifice, patience, and compassion – qualities that we may lack, even on our best days. It puts us third, putting God and others above ourselves. The way we overcome that is that God shows us the way every day.
Self-Control: By exercising the ability to control our thoughts, feelings, actions, impulses and desires, this empowers us to live within God’s will rather than our own. The Fruit of the Spirit helps us make wise choices and resist temptation.
As Paul outlines these qualities, remember they reflect the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. When facing struggles, pause and reflect. What’s holding you back, lean on the Holy Spirit for strength in developing these attributes. How can we invite God to work through us? Are we actively seeking to grow in these areas?
Poem
Fruit
Psalm 1
You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
Psalm 1:3
How sweet the juice of ripened fruit
Mature upon the vine
How great the joy of serving God
Like taste of costly wine
How rich the oil of olives green
When crushed upon the press
Its virgin richness healing balm
For all who are oppressed
How wonderful the fruit of God
When shared with every neighbor
God’s love served up to friend or foe
Great harvest—Our best labor
