Maybe you’ve seen your kids grow in the same way or maybe you’ve watched someone’s growth in the faith.  I think of one particular person who today is consumed with taking in everything available for spiritual growth. She continues to suffer through an enduring pain in her life, but in her discomfort she is growing. Her conversation is filled with knowing Christ and wanting others to truly know Him as well.

As Paul begins his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he gives thanks to God for the believers:

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Paul comments on the growth of their faith and the fruit of brotherly love and a steadfast commitment to Christ in spite of the circumstances of life.

A Proud Parent

Like a proud parent, Paul boasts to others about the believers in Thessalonica.  That’s the way I feel about my friend mentioned earlier.  It is rewarding to see God at work in the lives of others.

What would our spiritual parents have to say about us?  Would they be able to observe our growth?

Take a look at the list from Galatians. What fruit is the Spirit producing in us?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.