November 24, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“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)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

For those who make their commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the benefit comes twofold. First, there is the forgiveness of sins, the release of the burden of condemnation, the fear of eternal death which is dying forever in Hell and the confirmed promise of eternal life which is living with God and all other believers in Heaven forever. That alone is sufficient good news to cause great thanksgiving in our lives. But that isn’t all! There is another benefit as well. Not only is the believer’s life established already in Heaven, but their earthly life is immersed in the Holy Spirit’s provision to accomplish their determined impact in the world around them. God is most certainly “good.”

Seven times in the Creation story of Genesis 1, we hear of God’s declaration of goodness. It is the message of the Sabbath seekers, the true priests of Israel, who are given the opportunity to record and repeat this powerful story. In it, the reader/listener is able to account for all the provisions of life which are necessary to accomplish God’s perfect and righteous will on earth as the same is being done in Heaven. Do not get confused, Heaven’s work is not the same as the work we do hear on earth. Regardless, it is work established by God for His people to do. Believers on earth are being prepared for their place in Heaven alongside the angels who have been doing their work since before the earth was created. It is an amazing production which God has made so that the whole space of life and living is filled with His glory and goodness. How great a love is that?!?!

Yes, we know it is a priestly story because of the mention of seven. Seven is a truly holy and righteous number. As the priests seek to order their own lives in relationship to God, they mimic the very construct of creation which God had already established. They see it with their physical and spiritual eyes. It proclaims and declares the perfect design and pattern of living that promotes eternal life. By the same token, it also highlights and details what happens when people go off script. In short, “all hell breaks loose.” We have been living in that reality since the fall of Adam and Eve as it mimicked the very fall of the angel, Lucifer, and those who chose to follow with him. Earth became the battleground for righteousness. It is ours, mighty men (and women) of God to stand strong in faith to hold the ground given to us for the glory of God against the enemy. And we are assured of victory because of the provision given to us in the fruit of the spirit. That fruit represents the valued resource of God to withstand the attack of the enemy. It is specific and designed for the purpose by which and for which it was created. We know this in great part by looking into the Book of Revelation and seeing there the descriptor of Heaven with its endless “fruit of the Spirit” trees along the banks of the rivers which flow from the throne of God. Why even the book itself is written in the same form of “sevens” as is the creation story. As it was in the beginning, so it shall be in the end! God’s consistency and persistency is worth our thanksgiving and our thanks living. Let’s give praise to God from whom all blessings flow. Lets not merely be consumers of God’s fruit of the Spirit but producers of it as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness which is intended for all who will believe!

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.