Do You Have a Short Fuse?

Galatians 5: 22

Jesus prayed for His followers of every era. He said, “I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…” (John 14: 16, 17).

His reference is to the indwelling Holy Spirit. When there is inert life and energy in a vine it manifests itself in the vine bearing fruit. It is inevitable. When the Holy Spirit is in a believer, He is the energy source who produces fruit in a life. The pride of the vine is its fruit. The pride of the Holy Spirit is the fruit He is allowed to produce in our lives.

Galatians 5: 22 lists nine aspects in our lives. The text says “the harvest of the Spirit is…”. Grammatically that appears to involve a singular noun, harvest, and plural verbs.

The solution is found in the Greek word “karpos” translated “fruit.” In 1611, in England, when the New Testament was translated from Greek to English, harvest time was called a time of “fruiting” so they translated it “fruit.” Today the word “harvest” is a better translation.

The nine characteristics harvested by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer divide themselves into three groups of three. The first grouping, love, joy, and peace, are virtues that come from God.

The second three: longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness are dispositions that relate to other people.

The first three are upward and the second three are outward.

“Longsuffering” translates a Greek word combination.” “Makros” is a Greek word that has found its way into the vocabulary of teenagers. Micro means small, markos means large or long. The second word is “thumas” which means passion. Combined they are often translated “longsuffering” or a word more commonly used: “patient.”

Of all things with which we should be patient we should put ourselves  foremost. If we are patient we can be patient with circumstances and people. Thus, we can show “… all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” (Ephesians 4:2).

Then we can, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer…” (Romans 12:12).