Crickets

My friend, Brian Keel, who is CFO of the Toledo Area YMCAs writes a weekly devotional that he sends out via email. His from last week is one I needed to share:

The other night, as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard crickets chirping outside. It was the first time this year that their friendly, relaxing sound was audible to me. It’s a sure sign of summertime in Ohio, and I was pleased to hear it. There are other signs too… like fireflies and mosquitoes and cookouts and orange barrels on the Turnpike. Each is indicative of summer on its own, but in combination the message is hard to miss.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Just as we can see the visible signs of seasons changing, we can also see the visible attributes of a Christian life. But unlike mosquitoes and orange barrels the fruit of the spirit is positive. As we grow in our relationship with Christ each attribute will likely manifest at a different rate based on our personality and circumstances. They are not a pick and choose list of “fruits” though. In combination, they are “the fruit” and their message is hard to miss.

It’s a message that each of us has undergone a positive change; that each of us is finding life with Christ preferable to our life without. And hopefully others will want to know more about the source of that change.

Share your fruit!