What Is Is

We had a President say not too many years ago, in an infamous statement amid hearings of improprieties (to say the least), not only for a President, but moreover as a husband, "That depends on what your definition of "is" is". Yesterday, I was writing as to the fruit of the Spirit within Galatians (5:22-23) which reads "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control". It is interesting that Galatians shares this listing of "fruit" with an "is", not an "are". And it is fruit, not fruits.

While having a small knowledge of grammar and its use, it seems that this should read the fruit of the Spirit "are" love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Interesting that God chose "is".

I am going to take a stab at my definition of "is". Is is the true substance or state of something or someone. Wikipedia has as its partial definition meaning equal, homogeneous, or uniform. So, when God says love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is the true substance/state (me), or homogeneous (Wikipedia) of, Spirit fruit.

I believe God views this list of fruit, as one. The are the entirety of outcome. The fruit "is". Surely each fruit has a special and specific meaning to us and to God (see May 5th's entry, Control Thyself), but when we are living life in and of the Spirit, they all is.

Kind of like our children.

Each of my children is a Fossum. While each is in their individual makeup a listing of characteristics, or fruit of the Fossum. Each simply (or in its entirety extremely complex) is a Fossum. No getting around it for these two boys. That's what they is.

As it is with God's children. One led my the Spirit simply (or in its entirety extremely complex) is a child of God. No escaping it.

Now my kids as Fossums, and Spirit-led people as God's children need to understand that their is both inherent and expected behavior associated with these positions. This is a whole new ball of wax. Perhaps more on this later....