“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
And those who are Chrit’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”
– Galatians 5:22-24 –
The fruit of the Spirit is a life led by the Holy Spirit. It is the opposite to the works of the flesh. The fruit comes from life; the works come from one’s own efforts. The flesh produces dead works; the Spirit produces living work, which bears more fruit than contains seeds that will produce even more fruit.
When the Spirit produces fruit, the glory is for God and the believer does not become vain; however, when the flesh works, the person gets proud. The fruit of the Spirit is to become more like Christ. It is like a cluster, that is several fruits together.
There are fruits that apply to our relationship with God, there are fruits that refer to our relationship with others, and others that can refer to ourselves.
In relation to God: First is mentioned the fruit of love, all the others are the result of this. Love is a gift from God, and we must cultivate it and pray for it to grow. As we live in love, we experience joy, an inner satisfaction that does not depend on circustances. Love and joy produce a peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
In relation to others: Patience, kindness, and goodness are all love in action.
In relation to oneself: Faith, that is, faithfulness; meekness, the correct use of power; and self-restraint, which is self-control.
Just as a fruit cannot grow in all climates, the fuit of the Spirit cannot grow in the lives of everyone. The fruit grows where the Spirit and the Word work in abundance. This fruit is not for our own consumption, but to bless others and to glorify God. When this happens, we are also the first beneficiaries.
Someone wondered what fruit we should bear and came to the conclusion after spending some time thinking deeply on these things, she felt more and more deeply the sin that means neglecting to keep the soul in God’s love.
Alive unto God, through a living union with Christ, we trust in the promises, constantly gaining greater strength by beholding Jesus. What can change the heart or shake the confidence of the one who by beholding the Saviour is changed into His likeness? (Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 236).
Natural medice often uses sugar to treat ulcers, which are typical in patients who spend a lot of time in bed. The high concentration of glucose cleanses, takes out dead tissues, and prevents microbes from moving in.
If the sugar of love were used to combat the ulcers, blisters,
and sores of the soul, we would see the best results.
For every ailment of the heart, what better remedy is there than love,
because the foot goes where the heart learns.
Let love grow…