Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, May 20, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Unlike Paul’s list of the “works of the flesh,” there’s no arguing with this list. As long as, like that other list, we’re applying these expectations to ourselves. I can strive for these fruits of the Spirit, but the moment I try to tell others they “should” do likewise (“should” is a dirty word) I’m suddenly not acting in love, patience, kindness, generosity, or self-control. You know, among others things.
And, of course, I don’t do these things perfectly. I’m human, after all. But I think it’s important to look at where I am doing these things well in my life, and be grateful to God for them. I can point to lots of ways in the past week, month, and year when I was loving and kind, patient and generous, gentle and self-controlled even in the face of hostility and upheaval. Can I take credit for these things? Yes and no. Yes, because I am doing the spiritual work necessary to move in the right direction. No, because ultimately these things are gifts from God, and God should get the credit or my head will get super oversized for sure.
In the end, I just pray that my life will continue to be a delicious Spirit-fruit salad.
Where have I shown each of the fruits of the Spirit in the past week? Month? Year?
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
