“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26 

     As followers of Christ, one is called to live a certain way, act a certain way to others and to be a certain way not sometimes not when it is convenient but all the time, every minute of every day. To the point of it, being second nature for us. This certain way as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-26 is basically to live in love, and to show others Christ’s love for them in our actions. Though as the scripture says it is important not to just be kind to others, but to be patient with them; to not be quick to anger with others and not to hold grudges.

Though this is not always very easy for us even as Christians to do, (it is never easy). One area in today’s society that I believe needs us to live more by the fruit of the Spirit is in the political divisiveness that constantly is facing the United States and the World in some places. We need to remember that though we have our differences on how to confront the different issues facing us, we are all humans and children of God.

So the next time you get into a discussion on a political issue, don’t to let your passion for it get the better of you. Be patient with the person or persons and listen to their side. When you keep your passions in check  in either political discourse or any other arena of life and don’t allow them to take over you allows few so much better afterwards.