Sometimes I turn to Galatians 5 when I’m in need of a refresher, when I know my convictions have dulled and I want to remember who I am. The fruit of the Spirit is likely a familiar concept to many, yet that doesn’t make it unnecessary to read and re-read and meditate upon.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
The first thing I notice is the contrast in imagery. As we read through the works of the flesh, there’s probably a picture that comes to mind – for some of us it may be the picture of ourselves not too long ago – and the same goes as we switch gears and read about this ‘fruit of the Spirit.’
At times, it can be inspiring to read these verses. It can be affirming in our commitment to this new way of life and to Christ.
And at other times, it can be discouraging. What happens when we don’t see that fruit in we life? What if just as you start to get a handle on kindness, everything else goes out the window?
The cool thing about the fruit of the Spirit is that it is fruit – it is the growth, the product – of the Spirit. It’s not called the ‘fruit of you’ for a reason: we can’t magically conjure it up as we desire any more than a tree can yield an apple from it’s own will and in it’s own time. The fruit, and the freedom from the works of the flesh, are gifts from our Father as we patiently abide.
It does take effort and heartache and failing and patience and persistence and discipline to stop practicing those sins listed, and to diligently cultivate those virtues without a doubt [if that is a foreign concept to us, we’ve missed something], but thank God it is not on our shoulders alone. It is not up to us to simply try harder and harder and pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. If we find ourselves discouraged by our weakness, our failures, our absent harvest, we can be reminded that our Father is longsuffering, he is powerful; he is not only the patient farmer, he is the very life within his crops.
If we but remain steadfast and daily surrender to him in prayer and in study, learning his will, his Spirit will reveal the inevitable growth in his time. Don’t give up.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” – v16,17
Pursue Righteousness 