The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
GALATIANS 5:22 – 23
No amount of Christian activity compensates for the failure to be an authentic Christian. Our authenticity (or lack thereof) is made evident by the fruit that our lives are bearing. If we’re to be recognized as Christ’s followers, we need to be producing the fruit of his Holy Spirit.
Going to church or praying a prayer doesn’t automatically result in the fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives. Rather, the condition of our souls strongly influences the fruit that comes out of our lives. Quite simply, if there are areas of our souls that have been damaged in some way, we will inevitably produce bad fruit in those areas. And keep in mind that bad fruit doesn’t necessarily point to a horrific past or abuse — it can simply mean that certain areas of the soul are still not Christlike (and we all have these).
We can identify these areas by examining our responses to the people and events in our lives. For example, when we hear that a coworker has received another promotion, do we exhibit the fruit of kindness and rejoicing, or do we talk about why someone else could do a better job? When we see a grim report on the news, do we freak out, sell our stock portfolio to buy gold, and fill our cellars with a six-month supply of imperishable food? Or do we respond with a strong peace in our hearts, knowing that God will take care of us?
If we want to bear good fruit, working on our soul muscle is imperative, regardless of whether or not our past looks like a train wreck (like mine). The goal for all of us is to develop the kind of prosperous soul from which flows the qualities Paul mentions in Galatians 5. This fruit cannot be manufactured or externally generated; it results only from soul transformation and an authentic relationship with Jesus.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION
What fruit of God’s Spirit do you see growing in your life?
How is that fruit expressed?