"Godly"

There’s a glimmer through the treetops,

The light from this new day,

And with the sun, the mercy’s come,

To show to us the way.

And more than that the power,

To live a life of love,

Grace that’s real, and we can feel,

Comes down from God above.

I used to think I couldn’t,

Love the way I should,

Had too much grief, and no relief,

No faith that e’er I would.

But God knew He could heal me,

Of every injury,

Help me forgive and so to live,

His Spirit loves through me.

So if you think you never,

Could love the way He plans,

Remember too, what He calls to do,

Aren’t impossible demands.

The fruit of His own Spirit,

The love and all the rest,

He will produce, if self you lose,

It’s His highest and His best.

The light God gives at dawning,

Means there’s another day,

His love flows through and helps us do,

What is the godly way.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT)

God has called us to live a godly or “God-like” life. This life is characterized by love, which is explained as the highest Christian virtue. We are called to love indiscriminately and unconditionally. We are called to forgive everyone and love our enemies. We are called to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. All of this is only possible if we have the fruit of the Spirit. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, He can do through us what we otherwise could never do, especially in the love department. But when we die to ourselves and allow Him to empower us, we are energized to love the way we have been loved by the Lord. It truly is amazing, to know it, receive it, and ultimately to give it away.

Lord, produce the fruit of the Spirit in and through us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.