Spirit Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22,23 ESV

The fruit of the Spirit is singular, and yet it produces all these different effects in the believer. That tells me this fruit is all encompassing, covering all the positive characteristics of the Godhead that we require to have a completely fulfilled life which will make it obvious to the unbeliever that we spend time with Jesus and want to be more like Him.

First up is ‘love’. Can you think of a better place to start? Paul’s writings are inspired, and he made no mistake in putting ‘love’ at the front of the list. It has often been said that all the others depend on love to make them work best. Since we are told that God IS love, it follows that the other parts of the fruit will flow from a heart of Christlike love.

Can you imagine the kind of world we would occupy if everyone lived with a heart full of the fruit of the Spirit? Let me go one step further. What if all the Christians in the worldwide church lived to these standards? We are told by Jesus in Luke 10:27 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” I suggest with that command in our hearts, we will be well equipped to make good headway with the fruit of the Spirit. The notes in my Bible say it this way: “A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfils the law far better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart.”

Paul ends this verse with the reminder that there is no law which can stand against these characteristics. We are not law breakers, we are God’s law keepers, and heaven seekers. The bar may have been set high for us to reach as Christians, but it is worth it as we keep our heavenly goal in our sights.

Truth and Love

Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:14-16 TLB

Other translations say verse 15 this way: “Speaking the truth in love….”

When someone has to say that they are speaking the truth in love, sometimes they are doing the opposite. The verses above are the ones used to back up their words of love. I don’t know about you, but there are times I just can’t tell if Christian love is really being used, even in some small part and so I can become confused. When it comes to the basics like love, I don’t want to get it wrong.

I have found after a long time that it is much easier to tell when someone is NOT speaking in love. It can even be obvious, and hard to avoid. No matter how much the word ‘love’ is used, it doesn’t seem to ring true, and the reason is found in the chosen verses. As Christians we are required to speak, deal, and live truly, so that the whole body is healthy, growing and full of love. It is quite easy to see when those characteristics are absent, and that’s a good test.

Maybe it’s not only the words after all, but the tone, the manner, the delivery, the expressions used either all or in part. Easier to see when in their company, but still possible to tell in the written word like twitter or any of the social media platforms. So next time you are faced with the words, “I am speaking the truth in love” look for the things that are absent. As happens so often in conversations, it’s what is not said that tells the story. Now rest in the fact that where there is no fruit of the Spirit, there is no Spirit of love, so that ‘truth’ becomes suspect. As we are told in Galatians 5:22,23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Having said all that, should a Christian approach you, showing genuine concern and love to speak truth into your life for good, listen intently and act on it. Then, and only then, the given truth will be for your benefit as you walk the path of Christian faith. I trust we will always be open to growth by means of advice from others who may have been on the way that bit longer, and we can benefit from this experience. However, as a word of caution, we should always take great care if WE ever think it is necessary to ‘speak truth’ into another’s life and Christian walk. We should only do this after much prayer and meditation plus a helping of common sense, after all no one is perfect.

Gentleness

But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Galatians 5:22,23

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Galatians 6:1

We don’t see a lot of this on TV or in the movies because gentleness does not make good drama, or newspaper headlines. It is boring. It seems to be much better watching friends fall out, fight and even kill to get their own selfish way. Take a look at any of the TV soaps which are filled with all of these things, and for good measure add shouting, adultery and infidelity. That’s what seems to sell to the masses. After all, that’s what we clamour to tune in to.

Real life, however is a very different thing. The poor, bereaved, depressed and lonely don’t want or need aggravation. They need and yearn for some Godly gentleness in their lives, and can you blame them? If it isn’t found on the media, then where would we find gentleness? Godly gentleness is a wonderful thing, and unmistakeable when you come across it. When seen at its best, I would suggest you would want it, even more than the ‘brutality’ mess that the media serves up every night.

Next time you are tempted to join in the all too easy media mess, spare a second thought of those who are watching you. Mum and dad? Son or daughter? Friend or neighbour? Whoever they might be, it would make a refreshing change to see in you and me, a ‘gentle-man’ or a ‘gentle-woman’ positively beaming with that God given fruit of the Spirit, gentleness.