Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

The Spirit of Love!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace …” Galatians 5v22

We continue our focus on the Holy Spirit as we lead up to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit changes our character. His presence in our lives brings, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.

But as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13v13, “But the greatest of these is love.” Love for God and love for other people is shown by all the other characteristics listed in Galatians 5. It is love that enables us to be patient rather than impatient with people. It is love that causes us to be faithful when we may be tempted to unfaithfulness.

How obvious is it that the Spirit is at work in me and through me today?

I cannot do this of myself, it is God working in me by his Holy Spirit. My greatest need today is for more of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.”

Paul writes in Romans 5v5 “God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” May this be true for you and I today!

With love and blessing,

Roland