Worthy Brief - 1/2/2026
Friend, cultivating the fruit of the Spirit!
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The life of the Spirit is revealed not by what we claim, but by what we produce. In the Kingdom of God, fruit is not the result of human effort -- it is the evidence of divine connection. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit not as a list of tasks to perform, but as the natural outgrowth of a life abiding in God. Fruit does not strain to grow; it appears where life flows freely.
Many believers attempt to produce fruit through discipline alone, but fruit cannot be manufactured -- it must be cultivated. It grows in the soil of intimacy, watered by surrender, and sustained through abiding. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control emerge not because we try harder, but because we stay connected to the Spirit who produces them within us.
When we abide, transformation becomes organic. Reactions soften. Desires shift. Responses mature. What once required effort now flows with grace. The fruit of the Spirit is not proof of moral strength; it is proof of spiritual life. It reveals that the Spirit is at work beneath the surface, shaping the inner person long before the change becomes visible to others.
Cultivating fruit requires attention and care. We tend the soil of our hearts by removing weeds of offense, pride, and fear. We remain attentive to the Spirit’s leading, allowing Him to prune what no longer serves His purposes. Pruning may feel uncomfortable, but it creates space for greater fruitfulness. The Spirit’s work is never to harm us, but to increase the life of Yeshua (Jesus) within us.
The new creation does not rush growth -- they trust the process. Fruit ripens in season, not overnight. As we continue to abide, the evidence becomes undeniable. The fragrance of Messiah begins to surround our lives, and the character of heaven becomes visible on earth through us.
Friend, release the burden of striving and remain in the life of the Spirit. Stop trying to produce what only abiding can grow. Tend the soil of your heart and stay connected to the Vine. Let love rise naturally, let peace settle deeply, and let joy overflow freely. Allow the Spirit to prune, nourish, and shape you until the fruit of heaven is unmistakably evident in your life. Remain in Him, abide faithfully, and trust His work—the fruit will come without striving.
Have a great weekend as you celebrate the New Year in Him! Shabbat Shalom ... we'll see you first thing on Monday!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George & Baht Rivka (Orlando, Florida)
Fire at Tower of Vondelkerk Church in Amsterdam
Firefighters and police rushed to a major blaze at one of Amsterdam’s most famous churches, the Vondelkerk (Vondel Church), less than an hour after the New Year began in the Netherlands. It came in a night when two people died, and numerous others were injured in firework accidents, officials said.
At Least Five Killed as Iran Protests Enter Fifth Day Amid Deepening Economic Crisis
Violence between protesters and security forces intensified across Iran on Thursday, leaving at least five people dead as nationwide demonstrations entered a fifth consecutive day, according to Iranian state-linked media and human rights groups.
Eight Killed In U.S. Military Counter-narcotics Strikes
The U.S. military conducted five more strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean in the last days of 2025.
Dozens Killed, About 115 Injured in Swiss Ski Resort Bar Blaze
Swiss police say “several dozen” people were killed and about 115 injured, many critically, after a devastating fire tore through a crowded bar in the Alpine resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year celebrations. Authorities have ruled out terrorism.
World Leaders Strike Mixed Tones of War, Grief, and Hope in New Year Addresses
World leaders rang in the New Year with sharply contrasting messages, as speeches reflected a world divided by war, shaken by tragedy, while still searching for hope and unity.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Trump Gives Israel Green Light to Act Against Hezbollah if Disarmament Fails
U.S. President Donald Trump has given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approval to take action against Hezbollah if the Lebanese state fails to disarm the Iran-backed terror group, according to a Jerusalem Post exclusive citing a source familiar with the talks.
Inside the United States
Zohran Mamdani Sworn In As New York City’s Mayor
Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani took the reins of the nation’s most populous city in a midnight ceremony Thursday.