But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
The metaphor of bearing fruit is scattered throughout the Biblical text. Taken symbolically, fruit is the natural product of something. We even use phrases like “fruits of our labor” in modern conversation to represent the result of our work.
When Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit, he is referring to the natural product of the Spirit’s work in our life. I need that reminder. It is not the fruit of my labor; it is the Spirit working in my life that will produce those attributes in me. But it's not entirely passive. He allows me to participate and cultivate the soil around me.
… but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season. Psalm 1:2-3
The person engaged in following God and His Word will be firmly planted and yield fruit. Jeremiah says it this way:
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8
How I feed my soul is the fertilizer the Spirit will use to produce fruit. My soil prep includes meditating on His Word, praying, and walking obediently. And as I yield to the Master Gardener, may He graciously produce His fruit in me.
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