Thursday, May 8, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Acts 14

My dad used to hold up his fist, shake it, and yell, “Hurry up, grandpa,” when someone was driving slowly. Unfortunately, I learned to act the same way. And years later, while I was driving, I saw my youngest daughter sitting in her car seat shaking her fist yelling, “Hurry up, grandpa.” 

I was horrified. I was teaching my daughter to be disrespectful, perpetuating the same behavior my dad had taught me. I wish I could say that was the last time I lost my patience while driving, but I'd be lying. 

Through trying to be patient, someone encouraged me to look at the slow drivers from a different perspective. What if that driver was in pain, suffering from grief, or experiencing some other type of emergency? In other words, “Why don’t you give them some grace and have a little patience and self-control?”  

That’s when I had a breakthrough and began to experience more peace and joy, both on the road and off it.

Jesus followers are called to behave differently than the rest of the world, and the power of the Holy Spirit equips us to do just that.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

It is important to note the fruit of the Spirit is not just something we feel, but something we must choose to do. During last weekend’s message, Ben stressed the importance of not just knowing the Bible but applying it to our lives. Here are a few ways we can apply the fruit of the Spirit to our lives:

Love: Show affection to the people we find difficult.

Joy and Peace: Choose to feel content and thankful that God is with us in all situations.

Patience: Show grace to others during trying times.

Kindness and Goodness: Help others through acts of service and healthful words.

Faithfulness: Keep your promises, and act with honor and integrity in every situation.

Gentleness: Be tender and mild mannered, even when the world around you is in chaos.

Self-control: Obey God, and do the right thing, regardless of what culture or your own emotions tell you to do.

Thankfully, we don’t have to do this on our own - we have the Holy Spirit to lead us. Inevitably, we will mess up, but our God is so loving he will forgive us when we repent. 

Remember, we are not called to perfection; we are called to make progress.

Questions:
Which fruit of the Spirit do you struggle with the most?

How can you behave differently when you face challenges?

Next Steps:
Pray daily to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Think about something in your life that needs a change of your perspective, and then make the choice to behave differently. Ask a trusted friend or family member to help hold you accountable.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I love and adore you. You are such an amazing God and so praiseworthy. I thank you for giving me the fruit of your Spirit. Help me display your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to all. I know I will mess this up, but I am so thankful that you love me and will forgive me. Help me to have more than the knowledge of your ways, give me the strength to be more and more like you. Amen. 

Series Theme Verse:
John 8:31-32
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This post was written by Marsha Raymond, an Oregon attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.