What type of fruit are you bearing?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law” (Galatians5:22-23)
We have been given access to these traits because they are the products of the Holy Spirit of Christ working in them. Every believer has access to these traits, because they are products of the Holy Spirit of Christ working in them. Believers are not able to live out each of these traits or fruits without staying connected to Christ. Our flesh will fail us. For every fruit of goodness from Christ there is also the reality of our imperfect walk with the dark side and opposite of each of these fruits. If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. We do Christ a disservice if we deny the reality of our imperfect walk with God in this life. (1John 1:8-10)
In a world where instant success and ambition often reign supreme, it is essential that we continue to live out each fruit of the Spirit with boldness and conviction. Each fruit reminds us there is another way to respond, behave, and live. Living out each fruit requires us to pause, pray to God for wisdom, and allow God to give us courage to choose differently. We have a responsibility to live out each fruit with a desire to choose a higher path and one that glorifies God and brings hope to others.
In a world of ongoing confusion and strife, living out the fruits of the spirit is necessary to continue to be men and women of strong character. Our character and how we respond to different situations as a testimony to others who are struggling with hope. Living with the fruits of the Spirit produces stronger character, endurance, and grace within us the believer. Where there is confusion, we desperately need to walk in peace. Where there is division, the overflowing love of Christ builds up and doesn’t tear down. Where there is anxiety, we seek God’s patience. Where there is hate, we seek to live out God’s goodness and kindness. In other words our walk needs to be like our talk. We need to be the person of good character when no one is watching. To represent Christ better when we respond with each fruit.
Patience is a quality you admire in the driver behind you and scorn the one ahead…..A man’s car once stalled in heavy Friday evening traffic just as the light turned green All his efforts to start the engine failed. A chorus of honking rose from the cars behind him. Feeling just as frustrated as those other driver’s eager to get home or to their weekend destinations, he finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said,”I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and blow your horn for you.”
The end of the matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes7:8, 9)
So I will ask you again what type of fruit are you bearing?
Be Fruitful in Christ,
Rev. Walter Coy
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