TCU Family,
Our next devotional is written by Robby Gay, a TCU student studying Mathematics. Robby is heavily involved on campus as a Resident Assistant in Milton Daniel Hall and as a representative in SGA. He is currently running for Student Body Treasurer and hopes to lead campus in a new direction next year. In his free time, Robby enjoys exercising or reading a good book. May his words be a welcomed pause today on your continued journey through Lent.
“Fruit Salad”
Reading: Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Reflection: If you asked someone what living like Christ was like, what would they tell you? I’d venture to say it would generally amount to two things: love and kindness. Go back and read Galatians 5:22-23 again. There are nine fruits of the spirit and most people when asked would only provide two of them?
I envision the fruit of the Spirit as a big fruit salad with nine different fruits in it. If our pursuit of Christ looks like emulating love and kindness, then we are just picking out the blackberries and pears from the fruit salad when there is so much more offered to us.
How many of us struggle with anxiety, depression, and general frustration? A more proper question would probably be “How many of us don’t struggle with those?” These issues are sweeping in these times, and especially for our generation. Does the fruit of the Spirit not provide reprieve from these struggles? Did Jesus not provide a roadmap for how to live a life with joy, a life with peace, and a life with gentleness?
When we think of Jesus, we should think of him not just as loving and kind, but as wise, peaceful, patient, controlled, and gentle. As we begin to think of him as such, our pursuit of him will begin transforming our life to one with more peace, joy, and patience. In the time leading up to the celebration of the resurrection, remember that Christ is much more than love and kindness–He is the whole fruit salad.
Let us pray:
Lord God, you are many things. More than I even know. Show me more of who you are. Give me your love. Give me your joy. Give me your peace. Give me your patience. Give me your kindness. Give me your goodness. Give me your faithfulness. Give me your gentleness. Give me your self-control. Give me your wisdom. Give me your perspective. Give me your attitude. Give me your appreciation. Give me your servant heart. Give me your knowledge of people. Give me your forgiveness. Give me your…[continue as you see fit]. Amen.
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