walking with God. It is encouraging to remember that sustained communion with Christ in our daily walk produces the fruit of the Spirit unconsciously. Others see it before we do. And it is better so. This principle of unobtrusive growth provides a striking contrast to the way in which Christians can receive spiritual gifts. These are often (though not necessarily) bestowed on some special occasion, and with prayer or the laying on of hands, as in the Ephesian “Pentecost” (Acts 19:6), or when the