Fruit of the Workers

I love this time of year as summer winds down and the faint cool breezes begin to usher in the evenings - signaling that fall is around the corner. It's during this season we (ministry leaders and teachers) begin to kick off our school year ministries--I can't help but enthusiastically envision how the Lord will work amongst us! As many of you may know, Pastor Rob will be introducing a new message series on spiritual growth early in September. We will have many community groups scattered throughout the valley - meeting different nights, places and times so there should be one that works for everyone. These groups will be safe places to discuss, and apply the concepts Rob will be addressing. This is a great opportunity for us to come alongside each other to learn and be challenged in our relationship with God and each other.

It is such a sublime notion that our God and creator is in His very nature relational - and He is actively inviting us into that intimate existence with Him as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All the power, holiness, and mercy is then best manifested through us as we live out that immeasurable love with each other. As Paul said; "God's love has been poured out into our hearts by the Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Interesting too (in keeping with our current study in Galatians 5) that all but, the last of the nine fruits of the Spirit focus on how people relate to one another.

As author Scott Boren puts it in his book The Relational Way, "The fruit of the Spirit manifests as we relate to one another." For us to experience the fullness of a relationship with God and His love, it is essential we intentionally include others by engaging in their lives. We have an optimal environment for this to happen within our community groups. But the idea is that it does not end there. By the power of God in us, we can better extend this love to those around us who don't yet know the Lord. We can draw strength and purpose from God through each other that has potential to change the world.

As fall quickly approaches, and we ponder on the harvest of the season, can we too pray and invest ourselves in working towards a great abundance of fruit by how we live in and out of church? Its a task worth our best in time and attention! Let's step up to the challenge - there's no better time!