Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
I'm sure by now we all know that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control aren't the fruit of our labour or deeds, not even the fruit of our zeal or greatest efforts.
Nope, it’s the fruit of the Spirit, which simply means those who bear it walk in the Spirit.
It’s not called the fruit of the Spirit for nothing, and it all points to Jesus. You see when true love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control appear and manifest in our lives, who will you see? Whose work in you will come forth? Ah, the Holy Spirit in us as we are rooted and anchored in Christ!
No wonder Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you." Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).
Sadly, many people hear or read of the fruit of the Spirit and then afterwards try harder to bear this fruit by giving more attention to the way they love, always trying to be joyful, live in peace as far as possible, try to stay patient, show kindness, do all things mixed with some goodness, try and remain faithful, and always try to be gentle and practice self-control...as if we can make it happen through trying harder and being more zealous?
None of us can take any credit when love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are present in our lives, because it’s all thanks to the Holy Spirit’s doing in those who abide in Jesus!
Remember, IT’S THE FRUIT we bear when we abide in Christ and submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in us, just like a vineyard or a fruit tree, as fruit is borne when the vine or tree is well rooted and anchored.
No branch on a vine or branch on a tree tries harder every day to produce more fruit, on the contrary.
The same with us, for if we abide in Christ as He abides in us, His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His goodness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, and His self-control will flow through our lives!
I just wanted to remind you again today to abide in Jesus, remain anchored and rooted in Him, and know that through the Holy Spirit, you will bear His fruit so that people may taste and see that the Lord is good.
Amen