Verse of the Day for December 29

Verse twenty one closes a long list of the works of the flesh, and one of the last words is revellings. Wild parties. The world's version of joy, loud and quick and gone by morning.

Then Paul turns. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. Joy is the second thing he names, and it is called fruit. Fruit is not produced at a party. It grows slowly, on a branch that stays connected through rain and drought.

The word fruit is also singular. Not fruits. Joy does not come on its own, separated from patience and gentleness. It ripens alongside longsuffering, which is the old word for staying power over a long time.

That is why this is a joy for the long road. Revelry burns hot for a night. Fruit takes seasons. You may not notice it growing at all, until one day you realise you answered with peace where you used to explode.

If this December you are tempted to measure your faith by how excited you feel, look instead for slow fruit. On your commute, ask the Spirit for one more season of growth. against such there is no law, and there is no hurry either.

Joy grows on the same branch as patience.

Slow growth is still growth.