One thing that looking at the 9 Christian graces known as the fruit of the Spirit has done for me is challenge me with the holistic nature of being a disciple.  I can’t “specialize” in one or two of the graces that come more naturally to me.  And if I’m seeing “kindness” that has no patience and self-control with it—it is NOT Spirit-wrought kindness.  Tim Keller has some helpful observations:

If the fruit of the Spirit really only grow together, what practical difference does that make to us?

First, it means that even our strengths have to be renewed.

• In Christ all things truly are become new (2 Cor.5:17). It means that when we become Christians we get the seed of every part of perfect, holy character and behavior toward God and others.
• Thus even our “strengths” get a new basis and power. In actual practice, a Christian’s strengths are a mixture of older natural temperament and self-interest, and new supernatural operation by the Spirit using the logic of the gospel within us.
• There will be times when we will be shocked that something we thought we were very strong in–fails. It is because to some degree our strengths are based on old foundations. Second, it means that we are spiritually only as strong as our weakest graces.

• In other words, to see the real level of the Holy Spirit in our lives, go to the weakest link in the chain of the fruit of the Spirit. That is, look at an area where by natural temperament and ability you are very weak. As you grow there, you see more clearly to what degree you are maturing in the Spirit. 

Rob, at the end of this post by John Piper is a link to the only method that I’ve ever been helped by in attempting to memorize scripture.  Please give yourself to memorizing and praying Habakkuk 3:2 this summer.

John Piper: I wish I could persuade everyone to do this.

Here is inspiration and application on why and how to memorize Scripture.

Why Do It?

First, the inspiration.

Dallas Willard, professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, wrote,

Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.

(“Spiritual Formation in Christ for the Whole Life and Whole Person” in Vocatio, Vol. 12, no. 2, Spring, 2001, 7).

Chuck Swindoll wrote,

I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.

(Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], 61).

How to Do It

Second, the application.

The most helpful practical method I have ever run into, especially for memorizing longer passages, is the booklet from Andy Davis and is downloadable here.

Offering Song for 6/17/2012

1. Abide with me; falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers, fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, abide with me.

2. Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close Lord, abide with me.

3. I need Thy presence, every passing hour.
What but Thy grace, can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, tears lose their bitterness
Where is thy sting death? Where grave thy victory?
I triumph still, abide with me.

5. Hold Thou Thy cross, before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth;s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, Lord, abide with me.

Tomorrow we are looking at PPK: Peace, Patience, Kindness.  I’ll use this as an example of cultivating patience.

In his book Tell It Slant, author Eugene Peterson uses the short parable in Luke 13:6-9—a parable about manure, of all things—to talk about our need to practice resurrection in everyday life. In the parable, a man has a fig tree in his vineyard that doesn’t yield any fruit. Frustrated, he says to the man who takes care of the vineyard that after three years, it’s time to cut the thing down. But the caretaker replies, “Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” Peterson reflects on how this parable challenges us as believers—a challenge worth hearing at Easter, when we celebrate the power of resurrection. He writes:

Instead of goading us into action, [Jesus’ Manure Story] takes us out of action. We have just come across something that offends us, some person who is useless to us or the kingdom of God, “taking up the ground,” and we lose patience and either physically or verbally get rid of him or her. “Chop him down! Chop her down! Chop it down.” We solve kingdom problems by amputation.

Internationally and historically, killing is the predominant method of choice to make the world a better place. It is the easiest, quickest, and most efficient way by far to clear the ground for someone or something with more promise. The Manure Story interrupts our noisy, aggressive problem-solving mission. In a quiet voice the parable says, “Hold on, not so fast. Wait a minute. Give me some more time. Let me put some manure on this tree.” Manure?

Manure is not a quick fix. It has no immediate results—it is going to take a long time to see if it makes any difference. If it’s results that we are after, chopping down a tree is just the thing: we clear the ground and make it ready for a fresh start. We love beginning: birthing a baby, christening a ship, the first day on a new job, starting a war. But spreading manure carries none of that exhilaration. It is not dramatic work, not glamorous work, not work that gets anyone’s admiring attention. Manure is a slow solution. Still, when it comes to doing something about what is wrong in the world, Jesus is known for his fondness for the minute, the invisible, the quiet, the slow—yeast, salt, seeds, light. And manure.

Manure does not rank high in the world’s economies. It is refuse. Garbage. We organize efficient and sometimes elaborate systems to collect it, haul it away, get it out of sight and smell. But the observant and wise know that this apparently dead and despised waste is teeming with life—enzymes, numerous microorganisms. It’s the stuff of resurrection.

Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.
Renew them in our day,
in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy.

–Habakkuk 3:2

Tomorrow I’ll introduce this verse that I’d like everyone above the age of 4 to memorize. We’ll seek to learn & pray it together in the language of the 1984 New International Version (NIV84)