22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.
Reflection
This Past Sunday at Medford UMC, our traditional Worship Service was very special. We were blessed with the spirituality of Trinity Sunday and seeing 7 exceptional young people coming forward on Confirmation Sunday.
I was also impacted by Pastor Joe’s message focus on the nine key words in Galatians 5:22.
Pondering made me wonder if the nine words still have value today in our society. I used a search tool that I find to be quite good and put in a test by entering a false value. I said “do these 7 words – The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Where is their origination?” The AI answer is below:
“What a rich question, Clarence. The passage you’re referencing actually lists nine qualities, not seven — but they are among the most enduring words in all of Scripture. Let me give this the treatment it deserves.
Now to your deeper question — do these nine words still have value today?
The answer is a resounding yes — and arguably these nine qualities are more urgent now more than ever:
Love — in a world of polarization and tribalism, agape love (unconditional, not based on merit) is the rarest and most needed social force imaginable.
Joy — not happiness that depends on circumstances, but a deep gladness that persists through suffering. Depression and anxiety are epidemic. This quality is a direct counter.
Peace — the Greek eirene and Hebrew shalom it echoes both which mean wholeness, not just the absence of conflict. In an age of chronic stress and social fragmentation, this is countercultural medicine.
Patience (makrothumia — literally “long-suffering”) — the entire attention economy is designed to destroy this virtue. It is quietly revolutionary.
Kindness and Goodness — these two are close but distinct. Kindness (chrestotes) is tender and gracious in manner; goodness (agathosyne) is moral uprightness expressed in action. Both are desperately needed in our public and private life.
Faithfulness — reliability, trustworthiness, keeping your word. In a culture of casual commitment, this is remarkable.
Gentleness (prautes) — this is NOT weakness. It was used in Greek to describe a powerful horse that had been tamed. It is strength perfectly controlled.
Self-control — the final fruit, and not accidental. Paul likely placed it last because it is the one most obviously requiring the Spirit’s help. Every addiction, every broken relationship, every political scandal traces back to its absence.
These nine words originated in ancient Galatia, but they diagnose and heal something permanent in human nature. That’s why they haven’t aged a day.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
When you ponder one or more of these words, perhaps periodically as the Spirit moves you, what do you think and feel?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill each of us with your presence and power. Produce in us your fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Help us to know and do your will. Use us for your purposes today and everyday. In Jesus name Amen.
