Because of the fruit/seeds on the plants/trees, we know what they are and what they belong to. While taking a walk this past week, I noticed how so many of the trees are getting ready to drop their fruit or seeds this time of year. How can we tell what type plant or tree we are looking at? Simply look at the type fruit or seeds it is producing.
I remembered the words of Paul in Galatians. Galatians 5:19-23 to be exact. Depending on the choice we make, will depend on the type "fruit" we will produce. By choice, I mean, whether you choose to live in the sinful nature we were all born with, or if you have surrendered your life to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you. We are promised in scripture that when we accept the Son, we receive a Counselor which is the Holy Spirit to come into us and live in us. You will produce the type fruit that comes with whichever choice you have made.
Paul reminds us if we live by our sinful nature, the "fruit" we will have is: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and other sins. Doesn't look very nice does it? Some are pretty big in our eyes, but some are things we are all capable of doing. What, you ask? Quarreling with one another, being jealous of what others have, we aren't happy with what we have, just what we don't have, we have become a very, very selfish ambitious group of people and have we not at one time or another been envious of what someone else had?
However, if we keep reading, there is some really great news and reminders. God knew that left on our own, we would become just like that, with no hope of ever changing. So, He tells us in His Word, that if we have the Holy Spirit, along with it, we are able to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now they look simple on their own, but if you break down their meanings, you are overwhelmed with what all you are able to do.
Here we go:
Love: sacrificial, unmerited deeds to help a needy person
Joy: an inner happiness not dependent on outward circumstances
Peace: harmony in all relationships
Patience: putting up with others, even when one is severely tried
Kindness: doing thoughtful deeds for others
Goodness: showing generosity to others
Gentleness: meekness and humility
Self-control: victory of sinful desires
This is what I pondered and what I want you to ponder this week. If when we walk around this earth and we see all kinds of trees and plants and we can tell instantly what type they are by either their fruit or seeds or as I included in my pictures, the leaf on the stump, what do you want people to recognize about you instantly? If your choice is the second list of things, remember, we can't have them on our own. It doesn't matter how "good" you are, how nice you are to people, or even if your family is saved. It matters what you choose. God is a gentleman. He will come and knock, and wait to be asked in. He will initiate relationship, but it is up to us to accept. We can't work for it, we can't hope for it, we can't wish for it, we can't even buy it. We can only have those abilities if we have the Spirit living in us. Look closely at the definitions I included. A few of them you might be able to pull off on your own for a while, but eventually you will tire of it. These items in scripture are referred to the Fruit of the Spirit. You will bear these qualities if you have the Spirit in you. Now, if you have accepted the Spirit into your life, but you aren't producing fruit in these areas, it isn't because He isn't there, it is because we have not let Him lead. When things are difficult and you have joy, that is not something you can just come up with. You have Joy, because the Spirit helps you have inner happiness that isn't dependent on your circumstances. Don't we all know someone who while in a very difficult situation was still the most pleasant person to be around? Peace, the world wishes they could buy it, a lot of our Christmas cards will talk about it, but true peace can only come from the Spirit. I could go on and on. But did you catch the last fruit listed? Self-control....to have victory of our sinful desires. The only way we can overcome those are by the help of the Spirit. When we receive Christ, we aren't instantly able to do all these things. I still struggle, but I know that if I ask the Lord to help me, he will. In Christ, we are a new creation and we should be giving different "fruit" than we did before. So, I ask you, what type fruit are you showing to those around you? If you have chosen Jesus, you should be bearing Fruits of the Spirit. Spend some time this week asking Him to help you in the areas you feel weakest.
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