Fear No Fear

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control; against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23, MEV). One of my middle kids didn’t want to shower this morning. A hole has appeared where the cord meets the nozzle. It scared them. It hurt them when it caught their skin. This from a child who loves water balloon fights, swimming pools, playing with the spray from garden hose nozzles, and water guns. This is NOT something I understand. But right before I spoke to them, I heard Jesus in my heart saying ‘my Fruit’. Which I used to be gentle, kind, and patient. We got over the hump without any tears, bad behaviour, heavy-handed parenting, and a commitment to buy a new shower head today. I couldn’t have done it without the Fruit He provides us. I certainly have not grown enough for myself in this area. And looking back on it, I have the distinct impression that God’s tone was in the neighbourhood of ‘HOW are you about to speak to MY child?’ Not in a mean way, but a firm way. A ‘watch yourself’ way. Because God doesn’t just love US. He ALSO loves all those AROUND us. Close and far. Known and stranger. Followers of Jesus and the lost. Jesus loves them so much, He gives us His Fruit so that we can model HIM to THEM. So that we can extend Grace as He does. Mercy as He does. And to walk in the pattern of His love, so that they can understand their Father in Heaven LOVES them SO MUCH. The love of God is NEVER an insular thing, but something that spreads out to cover us all. Salvation comes by CHOOSING Jesus. We model Him so that they can see the most important thing: Jesus is WORTH choosing. We know He loves us because He helps us love others in the same way.