Most of us can rattle them off as answers on a test.
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
We’ve sat through (or preached) the sermons that painstakingly, meticulously defined each and every fruit as if it were wedged between microscope slides.
But even though I’ve sat through and preached the fruit I still struggle seeing this fruit as a manifestation of the indwelling Spirit and constant reality of my spiritual life.
I want to give myself a pass and say nonsense like "no one’s perfect" or "we all fall short" or "just try harder next time".
The truth is when love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness AND self-control are not "everpresent" it’s just further evidence of my sinful selfishness.
Spiritual maturity is all about this fruit becoming a daily reality.
Spiritual leadership (and those mature enough to serve) must be determined by this same reality.
In fact, I’m understanding more and more how everything in our Christian life and experience must be viewed through the lens of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness AND self-control.
4 Responses to “Fresh Fruit”
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October 18th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Although I believe I manifest a lot of these much of the time, if they have to be “in me and abound” every second of every day, I’m a goner. I tell myself they are a goal to work toward……………….
October 18th, 2007 at 9:07 am
My understanding of the fruit (singular) of the Spirit is that it is love. Each of the “fruit” following love are really a manifestation of love. Problem is, God is love, I’m not. So for me to love and thus express the fruit of the Spirit in my life, I have to give my life over to God’s love and allow Christ in me to love through me. Left to me, I can love, but only when it is to my advantage to do so. Christ in me can love through me to people I would never want to express my love.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:26 am
When Don was doing a series on the Fruit of the Spirit, he made a statement along the lines of (”I want to give myself a pass and say nonsense like “no one’s perfect” or “we all fall short” or “just try harder next time”.) your statement.
He said “trying” isn’t good enough when it comes to “spiritual maturity.” He pointed out that no where do you find Jesus saying statements like, “nice try” or “you’ll get it next time” when it comes to living a mature Christian life.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:40 am
As we work our way through installing new elders at College, it occurs to me that we would be far better off finding men who best reflected the fruits of the Spirit rather than those who met “qualifications.”
The further I get away from the legalism in many of the classes I sat in while growing up, the easier it is to see what God intends for us. It is not for us to follow a list or a law…it is for us to grow closer to Him. Close enough so that our desires are His desires. I’m so thankful to know that it is a neverending process. And when I look back, at least I can see that I’m closer now than I used to be. It gives me hope that, looking forward, I’ll be closer than I am now.