The Seed of the Spirit – Part II
Scripture — Galatians 5:25 (NRSV)
If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Focus
To think of the fruit of the Spirit as the growth and watering of seeds has felt more attainable, grace-filled, and honoring the silent work in my soul. It has felt so freeing to know I do not have to have this fruit perfectly ripe, but that I am going and growing. The slower, the better. It is both natural and supernatural work.
It is both miraculous and also very mundane.
Devotion
Yesterday I spoke about how I turned over the fruit of the Spirit and saw the life of the Spirit as one that begins as a seed in our lives. I have always felt the pressure to master all those Spirit-characteristics, all at once, perfectly and without flaws. I was relieved when I started to see the wisdom that comes from seeds and slow growth. I have been learning these lessons in my garden this past year as I watch milkweed, poppies, and lupine arroyo seeds grow (or not grow!). It has always seemed like an impossible and unrealistic task to attain for my perfectionist self!
To think of the fruit of the Spirit as the growth and watering of seeds has felt more attainable, grace-filled, and honoring the silent work in my soul. It has felt so freeing to know I do not have to have this fruit perfectly ripe, but that I am going and growing. The slower, the better. It is both natural and supernatural work.
It is both miraculous and also very mundane.
I am not in control of the Spirit, but I can cooperate with the movement of the Spirit. I cannot know which seeds will grow and when they will produce fruit, yet I can cooperate in being good soil, watering my soul, and standing in the truth of God’s light. In fact, when the conditions are not right, seeds can lay dormant for years. But they are there.
So beloved, be encouraged. The invitation is gentle to cooperate with the Spirit and co-create good fruit. The Spirit wants to guide you and wants us to live by this life of the Spirit. Be encouraged that we all have access to this fruit and do not be discouraged by the slow work of the seeds. This fruit is the language of love, the color of joy, the pursuit of peace, the sensibilities of patience, the melody of kindness, the opportunity of generosity, the steadfastness of faithfulness, the aroma of gentleness, and the challenge of self-control. I think the Spirit left self-control last on the list because it is the hardest! I’m just saying.
Even so, may the Spirit water the seeds within you. May you live by the Spirit into this life that bears good fruit, abundant fruit, and lasting fruit.
Reflect
What stands in the way of the fruit of the Spirit or of living the life of the Spirit?
Act
Pick a fruit of the Spirit to lead you this week. This month. Listen for it. Water it. Lean into it. Led the Spirit unfold it.
Pray
Spirit of life, we ask that you would animate and illuminate your seeds in our lives. That love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control would grow deep roots in us. That the fruit of these seeds would bless our workplaces, our neighbors, our communities, our friends. That others would see the life of the Spirit, see and believe that goodness still abounds in this harsh world. Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Work and the Fruit of the Spirit.
Inés Velásquez-McBryde
Chaplain at Fuller Theological Seminary & Pastor, Preacher, Speaker
Inés Velásquez-McBryde is a pastor, preacher, reconciler and mujerista theologian. She is the lead pastor and co-founder of The Church We Hope For. She is originally from Nicaragua, a third generation pastor, and the first pastora in her family. Inés earned her MDiv at Fuller Theolo...