When the Bible speaks of the “spiritual,” our tendency is to think of something not visible or ghostly, or otherworldly. But the Scriptures train us to see the word “spiritual” as the application of something formed in you by the Holy Spirit. The life that flows in the tree of human virtue is a product of the Holy Spirit who motivates and gives the power to live in these virtues.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…”
Our worldview also needs orientation when you think of “body” in the Bible. The biblical human body refers to your entire humanity, not just your flesh but your emotions, passions, desires, and decisions. The body is the battleground of good and evil. And the great battles of our Spirit-indwelt bodies are the nine great virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are not abstract virtues, but virtues that touch our very being and humanity. We are Spirit-indwelt which is to produce bodily fruits.
Prayer: O Spirit of God, move in us giving us new desires and renewing our love. Cause us to not grow weary in pursuing faithfulness to your call in abiding by the great biblical virtues through Christ our Lord, Amen.
~~~~
Notations:
* John Frame notes: “The most serious epistemological mistake is, typically, to assert one’s own autonomy: to make oneself, or something other than the biblical God, the final standard of truth and right.” One of the greatest threats within Protestant thought is to oppose the papacy while making ourselves into individual popes.
**I did a talk 14 years ago making a case for the Pauline authorship of Hebrews. My voice was different, but my convictions remain the same today.
***Lots of adventures on our front. My young men played the role of Patrick Henry in the morning and The Velveteen Rabbit in the play at night.