But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal. 5:22–23)
Expanded Passage: Galatians 5:22-23
As a young believer attending children’s church, I remember singing the song “The Fruit of the Spirit.” It didn't matter how fast or how many times I would recite these words, it didn't make living into them more manageable.
Living the fruit of the Spirit is an everyday journey and an everyday chance to see what God is cultivating in us, even as we admit when we miss the mark. It is humbling to know how much we need the Spirit to have the fruit of the Spirit dwell and bubble out of us. But I wonder how it would look if we committed to focusing on one fruit weekly and seeing what we can learn about ourselves and what God is teaching us.
I have heard people say, “I don't want to pray for patience because he will put me in situations that I need to be patient about,” or, “I know I am called to love this person, but they hurt my feelings.” Ironically, God doesn't care how hard it is. He knows we are his, and we can do it, which is why we have him leading and guiding us, even when it is hard.
So I wonder what it would look like to “fruit it up” and bear what the Spirit invites us to, leading us to a more fulfilled life than we can imagine.
Pick one fruit of the Spirit to live out this week.
Sarah Linder is a lay minister for congregational care at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, and a stay-at-home mom of three boys.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
