Christ’s Gifts

Christ’s Gifts

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

When my family vacationed on the island of St. Thomas one summer, all three of our sons decided to take up windsurfing for the week. “Let’s give it a try,” they said after sitting on the beach watching experienced windsurfers bounce and glide over the waves. The guys quickly learned that windsurfing is much more difficult than it looks. Anyone who steps onto a surfboard with a sail discovers that previous experience with aerodynamics and hydrodynamics is desirable.

My husband and I spent many hours that week watching our three sons get on and fall off the boards. By the end of the week, they were actually able to get the boards moving, with the help of the wind. When the wind got going, the boys said that the experience was exhilarating. If there had been no wind, though, there could have been no movement.

Jesus described God’s Spirit as the wind that brings us new life (John 3:8). Just as we cannot predict or control the wind, neither can we predict or control God’s Spirit. We don’t actually see the wind when it moves, but we see its effects. We see a flag flapping, trees swaying, or a beach chair tumbling over the sand. In a similar way, when the Holy Spirit moves, we don’t actually see him. But when he controls our lives, we see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I’m thankful that these life-changing effects—the fruit of God’s Spirit—do not require previous experience in aerodynamics or hydrodynamics. They result from faith in Christ.

Father,

Thank you that the presence of your Spirit in our hearts produces evidence that we know you. In Jesus’ name, amen.