From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage@juno.com>
Subject: Special Sunday Greetings
Date: Sunday, December 09, 2001 7:47 AM

"...The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there
is no law."  "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
Galatians 5:22-23 and 25

In this season of hustle and bustle it is not hard to find opportunities to
act in ways opposite of the fruit of the the Spirit.  Especially when there
are more than one car for each parking space; once in the store, there are
no clerks available to help fine what you want; when you do find what you
want, there is a long line to the cashier; and on it goes.  This is the very
time that the Believer must "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with
which you have been called."  Ephesians 4:1

And notice in Ephesians 4: 2, the Apostle Paul tells us just how this worthy
walk is walked,
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one
another in love."
He is speaking in this passage of our conduct with one another and that it
is
to be in love.  Does that mean we can walk in a different manner among
unbelievers, those who do not know the Lord?  Absolutely not!!

For in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate
your enemy.'  BUT I say to you, love your enemies...For if you love those
who love you, what reward have you?...And if you greet your  brothers
only, what do you do more than others?"   Matthew 5: 43-44; 46-47

Going back to our opening Scripture and using 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 as
a cross reference can we say that the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE and the
following eight words are the definition of  God's love, agape?

We are to be the expression of Christ in the world.  For we see in
1 John 4:17  "...As He is, so also, are we in this world."

Our Lord Jesus is love personified. Therefore, no matter what the day may
bring our walk is in the Spirit, under His control, expressing the
character of the one who dwells in us.  So when things seem to go awry
yield to Christ that His light may shine and draw others unto Himself.

All praise to our glorious Lord who is still in this world seeking and
saving soul through His body here on earth.  Hallelujah and Amen.