GALATIANS 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Remember what our Lord Jesus said about fruit?  In Luke’s gospel, we read His words – “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:43-45).

He also instructed us on fruit-bearing in the gospel of John.  In these words, from Him, He reminds of the progressive nature of fruit-bearing in His children. We produce fruit, then more fruit, and finally much fruit – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. 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, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:1-6).

What is this fruit being described? The answer is today’s scripture.  The fruit in the life of every Christian is the Fruit of the Spirit life.  This also becomes the only measuring tool to evaluate our walks with Christ.  And this Fruit is the character of Christ or for evaluation purposes, growing in the likeness of Jesus.

When it comes to the Fruit of the Spirit, it is important we remember, like everything in the Christian life, it isn’t about us.  It is about Christ and other people.  The most influential and impacting thing we give our families and the world outside our homes is our Christi-likeness or Fruit of the Spirit life.  And as we grow in this type of life, it is for the benefit of others.  Here is an illustration.

Near where I grew up, there was a neighbor who had a wonderful apple orchard.  When the time for apples came, the trees were full of them.  They were so full, the branches on the trees hung near the ground.  These dear folks allowed us young kids to pick the apples we wanted off the low hanging trees.  And we did! And they were so, so good!   Back to the Fruit of the Spirit life.  Submit to the Lord working in us to produce low-hanging Fruit of the Spirit so other people may benefit from our Christ-likeness.

PRAYER: “Father, make me soft clay in Your Hands that I might conform more and more to the image of Christ.”

QUOTE: “A Fruit of the Spirit life is not for our sake or comfort but for the sake of Christ and others.”