Most of us are familiar with what the Bible calls “ the fruit of the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”
Many times we read those words like a spiritual checklist. We think, “I need more love. I need more joy. I need more peace. I need more patience.” Certainly, the Word of God should search our hearts and show us where we need to grow. However, the fruit of the Spirit is more than a list of good qualities we are supposed to imitate. It is a portrait of the character of Christ being formed in the Christian by the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Christian life is not simply a matter of trying harder to be a better person. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches... for without me ye can do nothing.” Works can be manufactured by human effort, but fruit must be grown from life within. The fruit of the Spirit is what God produces in a believer who abides in Christ and yields to the Holy Spirit.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see every part of this fruit perfectly displayed. No one ever loved like Jesus. Romans 5:8 says, “ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” His love was not shallow or sentimental. It was sacrificial. He loved the unclean, the outcast, the weak, the failing, and even those who would reject Him. At Calvary, love bled.
We also see joy and peace in Christ. Isaiah 53:3 calls Him “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” yet Jesus was not joyless. Hebrews 12:2 says He endured the cross “ for the joy that was set before him.” In Mark 4, while the disciples feared the storm, Jesus slept in the ship. Then He arose and said, “Peace, be still.” The One who had peace within Him could speak peace around Him.
Jesus also showed longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness. He was patient with sinners and patient with His disciples. Peter failed Him terribly, yet Jesus restored him and said, “Feed my sheep.” He was gentle with the broken. Matthew 11:28 records His invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Acts 10:38 says Jesus “went about doing good.” He healed the sick, fed the hungry, sought the lost, and lifted the fallen.
Christ was faithful, meek, and temperate. He was faithful to the Father’s will, even praying in Gethsemane, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He was meek, not weak. Meekness is strength under control. He could have called angels to deliver Him, yet He humbled Himself and went to the cross. He was temperate, never controlled by appetite, popularity, anger, fear or pressure.
The fruit of the Spirit is first seen perfectly in Christ. Then, by the Holy Spirit, it is developed in us. We cannot produce Christlikeness in our own strength. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
This fruit begins with salvation. Romans 8:9 says, “ Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
A person may have natural kindness or discipline, but spiritual fruit requires spiritual life. Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.”
For the believer, this fruit grows as we abide in Christ. A branch does not bear fruit by trying harder, but by staying connected to the vine. It grows as we yield to the Spirit instead of the flesh. When the flesh says, “Retaliate,” the Spirit says, “Forgive.” When the flesh says, “Panic,” the Spirit says, “Trust God.” When the flesh says, “Exalt yourself,” the Spirit says, “Humble yourself.”
Our world does not merely need to see religious people. It needs to see Christ in His people. May His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance be seen in us.
Jimmy Barrett is a resident of Blackshear and pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Waycross.
Comments