The Fruit of the Spirit

In the Bible it says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5)

In the first few weeks of my arriving in Plainfield, these “fruit[s] of the Spirit” were in a Bible Lesson. As I was brand new to Christian Science, this seemed good to think about to make sure my motives and actions were right. Initially it was with only the most basic understanding of each “fruit,” yet reading a more recent Lesson, I realized that because of all I am learning here, each one has a deeper meaning to me now.

Love: To fully love, which means to express divine Love, including the moral courage to cast out error.

Joy: To have the utmost joy in listening to God, and taking

action as He directs.

Peace: To seek God’s presence, free of counterfeit, hypocrisy, and expectation (other than for good!).

Longsuffering: To walk with God through every bit of resistance, always expecting only good and never doubting Him.

Gentleness: To never be holding so hard to whatever I am thinking or doing that I don’t hear God’s call to do something else, or to help someone in need.

Goodness: To know that all good is of God, and not in trying to make people (or myself) happy.

Faith: Knowing “the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (II Chron. 20:15) The victory is His as well!

Meekness: Florence Robert’s article “Meekness and Restoration” really set me straight on meekness. I am grateful to fit into whatever role God would have me fill.

Temperance: “Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) This means to not get worked up by what human mind and material senses are saying, but to “Stand porter at the door of thought” (S&H, p. 392) and “lean not unto [my] own understanding” (Prov. 3:5), but rely on God for all.

I am so grateful for how each new Lesson here serves to refine and purify the silver of my understanding. Thank you!