We continue are reading of “A Woman’s Walk with God” by Elizabeth George. It is a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. Today we look at chapter five – “Looking at Jesus’ Attitudes.” The preceding three chapters were about circumstances of life that call for us to display the fruits of love, joy, and peace.
“First, the need for love is created by ill treatment, hostility, abuse, and hatred. Second, the need for joy springs from sorrow, tribulation, tragedy, affliction, and trials. Third, the need for peace comes as we face the events in life that evoke panic, fear, terror, dread, and anxiety.”
The author looks at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane “where we see Him living out all three attitudes…despite the events He faced.” The author goes into the following:
• God’s plan for His death;
• the purpose that drove Him to the Garden of Gethsemane which was the “challenge He faced during His final days;
• the place, the Garden of Gethseman, which was a place which was a secluded spot and a familiar place of prayer with His followers;
• the people, asking eight of His disciples to watch while He prayed then later three of His disciples to go with Him to pray;
• the problems, the “Father’s plan caused Him deep distress, extensive emotional anguish, physical stress. He wanted to do His Father’s will;
• the process, “with this submission to God’s will, we see Jesus emerge triumphant from His agonizing struggle in the Garden.
“How did Jesus remain steadfast in the love, joy, and peace that compelled Him to die willingly for sinners and not give in to physical and emotional desires? What was the process? And what can you and I learn so that we, too, can grow in love, joy, and peace?”
“In love, Jesus looked to the Father, reached out to Him for His sustaining and strengthening love, and then, offering the sacrifice of self determined to do the Father’s will. Jesus’ love looked to the Father – and looked at us – and the Spirit enabled Him to submit to death on a cross. Joy offers the sacrifice of praise. In joy, Jesus lifted praise to God. Peace comes with the sacrifice of trust. For peace, Jesus left His problems with God.”
Nothing in Jesus’ circumstances changed during His time in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In our difficult times, we need to follow Jesus’ example and go to our own Garden of Gethsemane. “I need to turn to the Father and contend with my flesh until I realize His fruit of love, joy, and peace. I need to spend the time – however long it takes! – to allow Him to fill me with Himself until I have all of Him and He has all of me.”
Here are thought provoking questions the author asks at the end of chapter five:
- How do you normally handle difficult situations?
- What can you do at such times to be filled with God’s love?
- What can you do in difficult situations to offer a sacrifice of praise?
- In a difficult situation, what will you do to receive and know God’s peace?
How are you doing with love, joy, and peace? It kind of makes us realize that we need more work in these areas. I know I do.
The author offers her personal prayer to us for growth in these three attitudes of love, joy, and peace:
It is in prayer, Father, that we press ourselves to You, O All-Sufficient One, that we get…in order to give, that we petition…in order to praise, that we wrestle…in order to rest. We must have our time in the garden. We must go to Gethsemane…daily…first…often, if need be. May we hold high in our hearts and minds this picture of Jesus in the Garden. Impress it upon our souls. May we follow in His steps and refuse to rise until we have Your love…Your joy…Your peace. We pray in Jesus’ name, who has taught us how to pray. Amen.
Blessings,
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