The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 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 - Gal 5:22-23

The problem with familiar passages of scripture is that we are often quick to assume we understand what is being said before quickly moving on.

And when it comes to this idea of the “fruit” of the Spirit, I suspect most of us would find ourselves guilty.

We must first understand that fruit is the end result of a process. It is the effect of a cause.

You cannot force a specific type of fruit to grow on a tree by doing anything except planting a specific kind of seed and allowing it to mature under proper conditions.

In the same way, if we want the Fruit of the Spirit to manifest in our lives (if we want to be a loving person, a joyful person, a peaceful person, etc.) the only possible way this is going to happen is if we receive the seed that corresponds to this fruit and then allow it to mature under proper conditions.

We don’t become more loving by trying to become more loving. We become more loving by receiving the seed of love, and then allowing that seed of its own accord to manifest into the fruit of love in our lives.

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” - Mark 4:26-29

Taking a step deeper, we must further understand that the word fruit here is used very specifically and intentionally. It is not simply a placeholder to convey the general concept of result or effect.

Fruit comes from trees. Trees come from seeds. And seeds come from… fruit.

It is a self-perpetuating process. Seeds produce fruit, and fruit produces more seeds.

The potentiality of the fruit is contained within the seed. And the actuality of the seed is contained within the fruit.

If we want the fruit we need the seed. And if we want the seed… we need the fruit.

And where can we find this Fruit?

To find the Fruit we must find its Tree. And of such a Tree in our world there is but one. If we wish to receive Life we must journey to the Cross and eat of its Fruit.

When Jesus spoke those words “you must eat my flesh and drink my blood,” He was referring to none other than the fact that He is the Fruit of the Tree of Life, and only by consuming this Fruit can we receive Life.

When we receive this Fruit, we receive not only it alone but also the Eternal Seeds contained within.

And if these Seeds just so happen to find fertile soil within us, they cannot help but produce according to their kind.

O taste and see that the Lord is good!

Psalm 34:8