The Fruit of the Spirit is Patience...

We live in a culture of instant gratification. If we’re hungry, we can pull up to the window of a fast food restaurant and have our food without ever leaving our cars, yet, if it takes more than a minute or two, we get frustrated because it’s taking too long. We (some of us anyway) also have high speed internet—dial up simply moves too slow. Never mind the fact that we can now use instant messengers and e-mail and have a response in seconds instead of waiting for a letter to cross the oceans. Waiting seems to be an archaic concept that is far from a virtue. It is, however, a fruit of the Spirit and a characteristic in which the Christian is supposed to be growing.

So, is there a secret to having patience? I think there is. It’s all about perspective. If we are only thinking about the present or the immediate future, I think we will tend to be impatient. If, however, we keep our eyes on the bigger picture—looking at this life in terms of eternal life—it will be easier to be patient. Notice, I did not say “easy” … I said “easier.” If we are considering how our lives fit into God’s plan, we won’t be as quick to “sweat the small stuff.” So, while it may not be popular, I urge you to … “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12) Furthermore,

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:11-12)

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

The Fruit of the Spirit is Peace...

Peace … it sure seems elusive in this world, doesn’t it? In the news, we may hear of peace talks, but these “peace talks” rarely produce much of anything. Then, if we keep listening, we find that the news report knows nothing of peace. Instead, we hear of violence, murder, and war. For the world, peace must seem like an unobtainable goal or some pie-in-the-sky dream. That’s because this world doesn’t understand where true peace comes from. It doesn’t come from treaties or peace talks. It comes from God alone.

Jesus proclaimed, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) Jesus knew that the disciples, and all of us, would face hard times. He knew that we would need peace that goes far beyond anything this world can understand (Phil. 4:7). Then, speaking about his upcoming trial and crucifixion, Jesus explained, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) So, true peace, comes from God, through Christ. In times of trouble, we remember that Christ has overcome the world. Those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior also know that our future is secure. Yes, we will face trials and tribulations in this world, but we have also been promised a future in His presence, where there will be peace forevermore! In the meantime,

… Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:15-16)

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy...

Before long, our churches and radios will ring with the song, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.” Maybe it seems too early to be thinking of Christmas carols, but for others, the Christmas music can’t come soon enough. In our home, Christmas music can be heard coming from AJ’s room throughout the year. There is something special about Christmas songs, isn’t there … well, Christian Christmas songs, anyway. It’s the expression of hope and the feeling that amidst all our troubles, “All Is Well,” as yet another Christmas song reminds us.

But, what of Joy? Well, the Biblical idea of Joy has this sentiment — that “All Is Well” even in the midst of trials. Joy doesn’t necessarily mean happiness. Joy can be found when happiness cannot. Happiness is a feeling that comes and goes with our circumstances. Joy, however, overcomes our circumstances. It’s a triumphant, hope-filled word. If you want to see it for yourself, just use a concordance or computer program and look up all the New Testament passages that use the word, “joy.” You will find that many have joy coming through, or after, sorrow and struggle. Here are a couple:

James 1:2-3 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Furthermore, true joy comes from God — it comes from knowing Him and growing in Him. My prayer, like that of Paul for the church of Rome, is that you experience overcoming, triumphant joy:

Romans 15:13 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

The Fruit of the Spirit is Love ...

To say that this world has a poor understanding of what love is would seem to be a gross understatement. With marriages breaking up all around us, the message seems to be that love rarely lasts a lifetime. The problem is that love is often viewed as a feeling. However, when things get rough, wedding vows are quickly forgotten. When they said, “for better or for worse,” they merely meant, “for better.” That’s not God’s kind of love. In fact, I don’t think that is love at all. It may be lust, it may be warm tinglies, but it’s not love.

True love is far more than a feeling. And, it’s something that we can only fully understand once we have embraced (or been embraced by) the love of God. I love the scene from the movie, Fireproof, where Caleb (played by Kirk Cameron) exclaims in frustration, “How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me?” In response, his father touching and then leaning up against a cross, says, “That’s a good question.” In the movie, Caleb gets the point, and finds out what true love is. Only then, is he able to truly love his wife. Finally, he found out what agape love was and is.

That is the kind of love (self-giving and unconditional) that we are to have for one another. That kind of love comes from God.

Here are a few verses that remind us of what true love is:

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

This kind of love points others toward the Savior. This kind of love weathers the storms of life and does, indeed, last a lifetime. May this be the kind of love we show toward one another.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker