Fruit of the Spirit Life – Fruit Part 3

Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26 (Click Link) 22 But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, 23 gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. (Galatians 5:22-23 TPT) These delicious, life-giving fruits are all expressions of divine love! This is not a new set of laws, these are not the new rules we must keep to be Christians. Jesus gave us two commands, then one more. 37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT) But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27 NLT) Jesus said, “Love God supremely! Love others as you love yourself! And if you can hear this, love your enemies as well!” What Jesus had in mind for his disciples (remember, we’re his disciples now) is to love. And you know what? There’s no place where he said, “Love people if you like them, or if there’s something they can do for you, or if they’re nice to you, or if it’s not too demanding.” Jesus simply said, “Love them, friend and enemy alike, brother and stranger alike. Love them!” This is about how to let the Spirit influence and control our thoughts, words, and actions so that we no longer think and speak and act out of our selfish self-life, but out of our generous and caring and compassionate Spirit-life. These qualities of Spirit-life in us are all expressions of God’s love flowing to us (receiving God’s love), living in us (being changed by God’s love), and flowing through us (sharing God’s love with others). This is not achieved through extraordinary effort on our part. We’re not going to fall into thinking of the Fruit of the Spirit as just another set of rules we have to follow so God won’t be angry with us! This is the Fruit of the Spirit! This fruit grows as we allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out into people who do these things because it’s what we’re truly like in our innermost being. Prayer: Father, Thank you for graciously entrusting us with your Holy Spirit to live in us and transform us into people who love. We will listen and respond and grow fruit! Amen!