872. LOVING CHILDREN BECOME LOVING PARENTS? Most parents encourage and support the development of their offspring, that they may grow to maturity and share their spirit "fruitage" with others. And, in turn, that they may see this "fruitage" shared with their grandchildren.Don't you agree that the experiences we find most rewarding are those that embrace such qualities as love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, and gentleness? And that with wisdom and experience we learn how to nurture these fine qualities and avoid the causes of discord, hatred and hypocrisy? Yes, of course you do. The remaining qualities that make up the nine described as "fruitage of the spirit" are long-suffering, faith, and self-control. (Please read Gal 5:22,23). To be long-suffering or 'long-tempered' is to be slow to exercise passion, indignation or wrath. To be patient, forbearing and long-suffering means to calmly endure suffering, delay or vexation without complaint, to remain unprovoked. It means more than merely suffering pain or trouble. Long-suffering requires deliberate restraint. "He that is slow to anger is better than a mighty man, and he that is controlling his spirit than the one capturing a city." (Prov 16:32). Long-suffering is a quality that gives one the opportunity to develop the other qualities that are "fruitage of the spirit". To exercise
self-control is to keep oneself in check, to control oneself in action
or speech. Can you think of something superfluous in your disposition that
should be disposed of, and replaced with a "fruitage of the spirit" Faith is "the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evidence of realities though not beheld." (Heb 11:1). It is confidence and trust in God based upon evidence of physical and spiritual realities. The entire body of truths of
the Word of God delivered through our Lord Jesus Christ and his inspired
apostles is what constitutes the true Christian faith. (John 18:37. John 6:63. Acts 6:7. 1 Tim 5:8).
Obligations that existed under the Mosaic Law are not
a precondition of the spiritual requirements of the "new covenant". (Rom 3:20)
(James 2:21
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