I hope you did not see any deeds of the flesh “evident” in your life this week! Today we will talk about the “fruit” of the Spirit. Let’s begin with Galatians 5:22:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Notice our verse begins with the word “but” which indicates a contrast. We learned earlier in our passage (last devotion) that the deeds of the flesh are evident. Now, we will learn the characteristics of what the Spirit produces are also evident. However, notice the word change from “deeds” to “fruit” (notice also the change from plural to singular – we will not discuss that change, but you may want to do some study on it). Deeds are what we produce from our work, but fruit is what the Spirit of God produces from His work! If we are controlled by the Spirit of Christ that dwells in us, we should see these characteristics in our lives: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Paul begins his list with “love”. For Paul, love is always paramount (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:13). For Jesus, love is also paramount. Look at this exchange Jesus had with one of the teachers of the Law in Mark 12:28-31:
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ ‘The most important one’, answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’
This is why we looked at love a few weeks back! When we are walking by the Spirit, “love” should be evident in our lives. If someone asked your wife, children, coworkers, neighbors, or a stranger you met, would each person say that “love” pours out of you? However, love is not the only fruit of the Spirit (though some people believe that love is the fruit of the Spirit and all the other words describe what love is). Let’s look at the rest of the list one more time “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” As you look over that list, is there a particular one of these attributes that you feel you can grow in? If you are like me, I can pinpoint a few of them! If so, take a moment right now in the quietness of your heart, maybe even get on your knees, and have a conversation with God. As the great hymn by Annie Hawks says, “I need the ev’ry hour Most Gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior! I come to Thee.”
I will end with how Paul ends chapter 5 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” And all God’s people said Amen!