Real Hope: Peace That Passes All UnderstandingSample

In Step With The Spirit

I have never really understood if the fruit-of-the-Spirit list is in order of priority. Other people who know more about this may be able to tell us. Whatever the case, I don’t imagine that ‘peace’ coming in at Number 3 is any kind of slight or afterthought. Same goes for the rest of the fruit basket.

Don’t you find it remarkable that living by and keeping in step with the Spirit cultivates such amazing stuff? For the past few years, I’ve been memorising the fruit of the Spirit as I attempt to remind myself of what is growing inside me. Peace is just one part of this Spirit fruit salad that I’ve tried to chew on meaningfully rather than rattle it off like a shopping list.

Surrounded by other qualities of God and Jesus, the peace mentioned here strikes me as a contented inner and outer state. I can be not-at-war within myself AND not-at-war outside. In the footsteps of the Prince of Peace, we are spiritually empowered to not be in opposition to the God who loves and leads us. We also can fight the good fight of ‘love your enemy’ rather than, well, fight our enemies.

I know this can just sound like words. Easier to say. Tougher to practice. Good news from Galatians 5, though, is the Spirit grows its godly orchard in us. Pick from it.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN