Galatians 5:22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives HE will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
[Living Bible]
Summary
In Galatians 5:22 the apostle Paul list a number of attributes or characteristics of a Christian life. They are:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-control
According to Paul, these are fruit of the Holy Spirit and will be produced in us when we relinquish control of lives to HIM. Each of the fruit is worth examining separately so that we can better appreciate its usefulness in our life and our ministries; however, our focus for this devotional will be on love.
LOVE
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, another instructive letter from Paul, he provides additional information about love so that we can understand it importance, its traits and how we can recognize whether we are exhibiting and experiencing love and when we are not. Paul says:
1. Love is very patient.
2. Love is very kind.
3. Love is never jealous or envious.
4. Love is never boastful, proud or haughty.
5. Love is never selfish or rude.
6. Love does not demand its own way.
7. Love is not irritable or touchy.
8. Love does not hold grudges and hardly ever notices when others do it wrong.
9. Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
10. If you love someone, you will be loyal to that person, no matter what the cost.
11. If you love someone, you will always believe in that person and expect the best of that person.
12. If you love someone, you will always stand your ground defending that person.
A study of just one of the fruit of the spirit, "Love," is beneficial in achieving a better understanding of just how high the Biblical standards for love are. The love described here is definitely not superficial TV day time soap or movie type love. The qualities of 1 Corinthians 13 "love" raises 'the bar' and the meaning of "love" to a heavenly level. We might even say that this love is a "Spiritual SUPERFRUIT"
SUPERFOOD
"Superfood" is a marketing term used by the food and beverage industry to refer to certain foods that confer higher health benefits than other foods because of their high phytonutrient (e.g. generally referring to chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants) content. One example of a "superfood" or "superfruit," is the blueberry.
Blueberries
Blueberries, because of they contain antioxidants, anthocyanins, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber have a number of health benefits. According to WebMd.com
1. Blueberries are one of the highest of fruits for antioxidants. They were used by early Native Americans to treat cough.
2. Blueberries are low in calorie, fewer than 100 per full cup.
3. According to one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating one cup of strawberries or blueberries per week may help ward off high blood pressure.
Anthocyanin is a powerful antioxidant that gives blueberries and strawberries their vibrant color. It may also help open blood vessels, which allows for smoother blood flow and a lower risk for high blood pressure.
See, "Strawberries, Blueberries May Ward Off High Blood Pressure: Eating Plenty of Anthocyanin-Rich Blueberries and Strawberries Lowers High Blood Pressure Risk, Study Finds," by Denise Mann, WebMD Health News, Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC
4. Eating blueberries may help reduce belly fat:
In a study, presented at Experimental Biology 2009, researcher fed rats bred to become obese either a high-fat or low-fat diet enriched with whole blueberry powder or carbohydrates as 2% of their total diet.
After 90 days, the rats fed blueberries had less abdominal fat, lower cholesterol, and improved glucose control and insulin sensitivity. The latter two factors are makers of how well the body processes sugar for energy and are related to diabetes risk.
See, "Blueberries May Banish Belly Fat: Diet Rich in Blueberries May Boost Heart Health by Jennifer Warner, April 19, 2009, WebMD Health News, reviewed by Louis Chang, MD
Anyone with a diagnosed medical condition should always consult their own physician about their dietary needs or changes they would like to make.
LET HIS LOVE SHINE
The Bible tells us to study. (2 Tim. 2:15). As we study the effects of physical foods on the body to achieve greater physical health and well-being, let us commit to study with equal fervor the Spiritual Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT. Let our longing and desire for physical fitness renew an even greater and more intense, concern and longing to be spiritually fit.
So, today, eat a few blueberries. And today, relinquish control---to the HOLY SPIRIT. Pray one for another that HE drive* our motives, our tongue and our actions so we manifest HIS LOVE.
Pray that we liberally eat the fruit called "LOVE" of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Pray that each one of us reflects HIS GLORY and Be Blessed!
*Robert Frost (1874-1963) is considered one of the great American poets. One of his poems is called "Blueberries." Anoth-er more famous poem is called "The Road Not Taken." To hear "The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost, paste the following into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUaQgRiJukA. As you listen, pray that we all take the "HIGH" road to greater spiritual growth and abundant life.
