The Fruits of the Spirit
We’ll never be perfect but it’s certain that we have the authority over the amount of spiritual fruit we bear and God desires it to be abundant in quantity and quality. Every area of our lives should yield abundant fruit- spiritually, relationally, financially, physically, etc.
We all have great qualities that make us great human beings. We all have unique skills sets, a particular work ethic, have earned great degrees and honors, won many awards and have many titles. All of this is great and I salute us all. However, it is only through a personal relationship with God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit that we can live an abundant fruitful life! Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
The fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians are produced when we make Jesus and His Kingdom our first priority. Surrendering our life to Jesus gives Him and others the opportunity to plant seeds of these fruits of the spirit in our lives and as time progresses, our spiritual fruit grows. We must stay in a consistent relationship with Jesus. It is only through wholeheartedly living out these fruits of the spirit that we become spiritually mature. Of course, maturing isn’t going to happen overnight. It will take time but we just need to be mindful of living right in the spirit and that is, daily denying and crucifying all of our fleshly desires. We must discipline ourselves to act right 24/7 no matter what may be going on around us. We have to remain in the Word of God and live it out. Others need to see us behaving in the most polite and Godly way. Our character must resemble that of our Heavenly Father’s. Allow the Holy Spirit to mature the fruits of the spirit within us.
Like a fruit tree, every part of our lives must bear fruit. We bear fruit in every little thing we say and do. But the question is, is it good or bad fruit? Is the fruit we bear nutritious or tainted? Ripe or immature? Seasonal or everlasting? I want to challenge us all to make sure we speak life and truth with our lips. Walk in God’s greatest fruit and commandment, love.
