June 23

Read: Colossians 1:9-12

Walk worthy of the Lord… being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).

Holiness Is Wholeness

We have come to the end of Paul’s Galatian list of the fruits of the Spirit. It is not a complete list because the Apostle here points out chiefly aspects of a holy life in relation to our fellow men. He does not discuss our sonship to God.

We have looked at these fruits one by one but they do not grow on different trees; they are all fruits of the same Spirit. Holiness is wholeness. The perfection of God is not found in any one attribute, but rather in the perfection of all, and in their harmonious balance in His character. When we are most like Him in holiness there is a beautiful balance of every worthy impulse and habit.

In our scripture Paul prays that we may have “longsuffering with joyfulness.” God’s man can patiently endure; but if endurance makes him grim and joyless, there is some fruit of the Spirit missing. A sanctified Christian is a joyful person, but that does not make him so happy-go-lucky that he cannot be relied upon.

This wholeness of holiness is God’s plan to save us from warped personalities and sometimes from wrecked lives. Every man is in danger from his own strong points. “One never falls but on the side toward which he leans.” And so I join in the spirit of today’s text:

Prayer For Today

Thank You, Lord, for all the nurture of Thy Holy Spirit. Help me this day to walk worthy of Thee. Make my sanctified life fruitful in EVERY good work, in the measure that is pleasing to Thee. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.