Devotionals

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Fruitful Living


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!

--Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)


Kimberly Emarthle, a senior executive for Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurants International, was assigned a seven week task that took her to seven different countries. Her task was to investigate quality control in a random number of restaurants in selected facilities.

At the conclusion of her study, she found the facilities were generally to standards; the food to be of highest quality; and the people, regardless of country to be rude. Before Kimberly began her study, she was led to believe rudeness was an American phenomenon. However, in these nations, without exception, she observed conflict among customers towards workers when their food was not served as quickly as desired; customer verbal abuse when orders were incorrect; loud cellphone conversations when customers were in ordering lines or waiting for food orders.

What is written in the Bible about rudeness? As one might suspect, human frailty was not limited to the 21st century. Recognizing this, Paul wrote to the people of Galatia that when people give their lives over to the Will of God, they will receive the fruits of the Holy Spirit to help them live amicably with each other. These are: peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control—the opposite of rudeness and healthy living among our neighbors.


Prayer: Lord, help me to never disregard the privileges and rights of my neighbor.


Stephen A. Peterson
© 2012

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