“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.”
(Galatians 5:22-23)
Reflection:
Once God becomes a part of our lives – and we become a part of His – differences should become apparent. Some may be immediate whilst others will develop over time. Jesus referred to this in the story of the vine when He taught that,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
A consequence of His life flowing through us will be that we will bear good fruit. So it is with the Holy Spirit living within us, and our seeking to be filled continuously with Him. Here the fruit is detailed for us – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are lovely qualities that should appear and develop in our lives as we walk in increasing intimacy with God.
The Holy Spirit is also the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) He will, therefore, also reveal to us those areas of our lives that are not productive of good fruit – and may even be revealing the very opposite of the qualities that He wishes to establish within us. This immediately gives us a focus for our prayers – to pray for the good fruit and to be healed of that which is not of God.
It is no coincidence that the first segment of the fruit that is mentioned is ‘love.’ For God is love; (1 John 4:16); the Great Commandments are concerned with love; the New Commandments are about love; and Paul tells us that without love nothing is of value in God’s eyes. So the Spirit who will pour the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5) will be primarily concerned with the fruit of love.
Response:
Am I growing in love ?
Prayer:
Come Holy Spirit – to cleanse, heal and build me into a true temple of God, where Your love and Your fruit shine forth. Amen.
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The Soaring Eagle 