“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
As I read various online commentaries concerning these verses, one entry at www.bethanybible.org captured my attention. There are statements within it that I would like to share today with you.
“By our own efforts, these things could never be produced in us as they were found in Jesus. But the wonderful promise of this passage is that, through the ministry of His own Holy Spirit dwelling in us, Jesus’ own perfect character—as defined by these qualities—can be exhibited in us!” Considering what our lives were like before we were saved, this should thrill us.
Development of these qualities will take time. However, don’t become discouraged. “That the character qualities the Spirit wishes to produce in us are compared with ‘fruit’ reminds us that the process of their full development in us will take time. We must allow the Holy Spirit all the time He wishes in directing the timing and the process of the production of His own fruit in us. And we must accept that He brings us into the various trials and tests that develop and perfect that fruit in us; and not try to short-change the process.”
“The fruit of the Spirit, as we see it listed in this passage, may seem like a random list of qualities; but in reality, they are given to us in very logical divisions. The first three qualities have to do, primarily, with the impact of our relationship with God through Jesus Christ: ‘love, joy, peace.’ The second three have to do with our relationships and interactions with other people: ‘longsuffering [or ‘patience’], kindness, goodness.’ And the final three have to do, primarily, with our own inner state of being: ‘faithfulness, gentleness [or ‘meekness’], self-control.’ Considered in those terms, the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us will impact every relationship we could ever have.”
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Free Will Baptist Christians in France, asking God to fully develop these fruit qualities in their lives.
