For a while now, I’ve known that God was impressing upon my heart to study the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23:
“[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23
In many devotionals, as well as the personal discipleship I am engaged in, I often use the stark contrast between what the Bible calls the “fruit of the Spirit” and the “works of the flesh” to illustrate what a born again person’s life should look like. The contrast is illuminating!
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21
When you compare the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh—is there any doubt which you would prefer to experience?
It’s evident from God’s Word that He intends for us to have a life overflowing with the BEST things—the things money can’t buy. But we also know from common sense that an apple tree does not grow anything but apples and a thorn bush grows thorns. Conversely, a thorn bush NEVER grows apples, and….one is only ever convinced that a thorn bush is growing apples if—they are blind or deceived.
The proof of a tree is in the fruit. The proof of who we are—in Christ or NOT in Christ—is in the fruit we bear!
Keep in mind that Paul the Apostle is not talking about doing good works to attain salvation. Rather, the PROOF that we belong to Christ is in what we DO, what we SAY, how we THINK, and what we LOVE. He is the one who must be our source of love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, self-control, gentleness, patience, etc.
But—don’t forget—every born again believer has a battle with the flesh; even as Paul did!
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.”
Romans 7:18-21
Paul is reminding us we are designed with a body, soul and spirit, and our flesh is never any better than the day we were born again. The difference is—the one who truly belongs to Christ—will never find peace in living after the flesh. Just because an apple tree battles with disease and drought does not mean it morphs into a thorn bush. It will always be genetically—an apple tree. When we are born again, our soul and spirit receive the genetics of Christ. But the enemies of Christ don’t want His children to have the joy of bearing wonderful fruit!
There is a persistent raging battle to keep us from bearing fruit.
That’s why it is so important for us to be diligent to grow in the truth and in our relationship with Christ. We must develop HIS attitudes and HIS mindset for life! When we choose to allow the rotting disease of sin into our roots, our righteous inner man will always desire to eradicate it! If we desire to possess the fruit of God’s Spirit—we must look to God. There is no purer form of love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness and faithfulness we will receive than what we receive from HIM.
To possess the marvelous fruits of God’s Spirit, we must love Him with all our heart, soul and mind.
Tomorrow we will continue this discussion and explore the places we often look—but never get—the fruit of the Spirit.
