Day 26 – Not Your Fruit – the Spirit’s ~ Julie Earl
Galatians 5:19-26
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Julie’s Nugget
The most important four words in the above passage are “fruit of the Spirit.” It doesn’t say the fruit of your efforts, it says the fruit of the Spirit. When I was younger, I looked at this list of love, joy, peace, etc. as my guideline for how I should behave. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it was misguided. I was focused on the fruit, and trying to be a better person, rather than being focused on the Producer of the fruit. When you are trying to get apples to burst forth on an apple tree, you don’t focus on the nonexistent apples, you focus on the tree.
It is no different in Christianity. If you are struggling with a lack of patience, focusing on that lack will probably cause you to feel defeated and shamed, and produce minimal change. But if you focus on the “tree” that produces the fruit, tending and nourishing it, you will see patience and other fruits grow as a result.
So what is this “tree” we need to focus on? The “tree” is the Spirit of God living inside you. As you tend and nourish your relationship with the Spirit, the Spirit is then able to produce His fruit in you. As you stay in step with the Spirit, saying what He says, going where He goes, doing what He does, you’ll not only have a blast, but you’ll see the fruit of His presence in your life transform your behaviors and attitudes. Love, joy, peace, patience and all the fruits are a result of intimacy and allowing the Holy Spirit to be big in you and through you!
To Remember
Turn your focus from yourself and the distractions swirling around you, and turn your focus to God’s Spirit. Talk with Him all day long; tell Him you love Him; read His words; enjoy His love and say yes to each of His promptings. Then get ready to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit in your life!!
Many blessings as you enjoy His love and fruit,
Julie Earl
(All scripture taken from the New International Version. Bold lettering mine.)