But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
(Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

What does it mean to be like Jesus? If each day it was our aim to do as he did, what would that entail? The above list is it. As followers of Jesus, we want more of these and never less. But what is it that inhibits their growth and expression in us?

It would be easy to chalk it up to sin. That’s not incorrect. We could color that in with greater detail by adding words like doubt, laziness, selfishness etc.. C.S. Lewis brought a perspective that may make it clearer still. He wrote, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.”

As noted in last week’s prayer emphasis, sometimes we need the courage to stand up to others. The adversary that we most frequently need to face is ourselves. Will we stand up to our own love affair with comfort, taking the easy path, or even our insecurities? That takes courage too.

There is staggeringly good news. We are not alone. The above virtues are not our fruit, but the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to keep in step and follow his lead. In our relationships that come easy and those that don’t, in our interactions that wrap us in confidence and the ones that expose our discomforts and insecurities, may we trust and follow his lead and never shrink from relying upon him.

Prayer for the Week

Heavenly Father, thank you that we are not alone. The way of Jesus would crush us if we were left to ourselves. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who is in us, working to produce Christlikeness. We want to be a church that enjoys and expresses this fruit in all our interactions with each other. We want to be the body of Christ, in unity, without division, radiating love, and dissolving barriers that keep brothers and sisters from one another. Holy Spirit, make us a fruitful garden, and please give us the courage we need to keep in step with you so that we can be honest with ourselves, leading to glad repentance and worship. Amen.