The Fruit of the Spirit
What is the Fruit of the Spirit? I was thinking about this the other day while I was working with some of our clients at one of our Master Rehabbing events. Over the course of my professional life, because of the nature of bringing God into my business, I have been very fortunate and blessed to meet people who exhibit the fruit of the spirit and a life lived for God.
It has been eye-opening and reassuring for me to know that God works in others and that his Holy Spirit is evident in their words, actions, and deeds. I have grown in my faith by surrounding myself with these faithful and God-abiding people.
Which is why I want to explore the topic of the Fruit of the Spirit. What is it about mirroring God that brings these good fruits to bear in our lives? What is it about these fruits that attract others to us and to God? And why, when we give ourselves over to Jesus, do we begin to develop these awesome traits?
Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. We learn from scripture that these are not individual “fruits” from which we pick and choose. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit is one, nine-fold “fruit” that characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll talk about these fruits individually and then how they work in tandem to create a ‘holistic’ Christian life. As with all Christians, I know that I do not personally display these fruits perfectly and on a regular basis, but I’m resolved to allow the Holy Spirit to transform me and work through me so that I may enjoy these fruits of God’s labor through me.
____________________________________________________________
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL. AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW.
