The other day while taking in the beginning of the fall colors and the warmth of the day the Lord began to speak to me about the fruit of the spirit.
Galatians 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.
There was a period of many years where I would “work” hard to exhibit that fruit. And then I realized it was the fruit of the spirit…not me. I did not see apple trees working hard to “squeeze” out their fruit, so why was I trying. I had not yet wrapped my mind about grace and rest, but I think the plane was circling the field.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
So how, where does fruit come from? What is the need?
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
A man must be planted in the soil by water, receiving from the sun(Son). If we are people of the light(sun) we must remain where there is light. We must drink from the river of God. It is in remaining planted that fruit has a chance.
Revelation 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
This is heaven we are seeing in the scriptures and there is fruit! (And no tree of good and evil. How does the tree of life stand on both sides?) And we are people who are called to bring heaven to earth. We are trees of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:1-4) People will “eat” from us. We will be rebuilders of broken cities. Carriers of light.
In Galatians 5:21 it talks about people who “practice” the previous sins, so there must be a practice of the fruits of the spirit. There also must be a willingness to eat of the fruit of the Spirit. Will you eat love? Peace? Joy?
And while you could have had a V8(Eight vegetable juice) you can have a Spirit9. 9 fruits of the the Spirit. And while an apple a day might keep a doctor a way, eating of the Spirit’s fruit, will keep darkness away and usher in His presence.
Are you showing signs of unhappiness? Begin to feast on His joy! feeling ornery? Feast on His kindness. Out of sorts? eat of His goodness.
Feast on the fruit of the Spirit, that you might manifest His goodness in the earth.
Have you visited the question of the day?
