Last month I looked at how to have a life that ‘bears fruit’. Put another way, a life that makes an impact on the world around you. This is a life that not only you enjoy but one that makes a difference to others as well. Bearing fruit is a key element of being a follower of Jesus. He said to his disciples- “that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” So, it’s a call from him. But as with our goal of gains in physical fitness training there are some practical implications to a life that bears fruit too.
Ever think of fruit as a gift from God?
Here are a couple more thoughts on the issue: Ever think of fruit as a gift from God?
Let’s look at this idea of the Fruit of the Spirit in a different way. Because the Holy Spirit is a gift to believers, God gives us the power to live fruitful lives. Christianity is not a rules-based religion (though there are some!). Our growth is not gained based on how much good we do. Rather, it’s an outpouring of a relationship with a living God that forces and encourages us to live better. It aspire to be like Him; to be Holy as He is holy. Growing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is evidence of these internal changes. When we nurture our relationship with God, we have access to the Son, and we water our lives with his Word. When we do that, we grow and are equipped to deal with whatever the world throws at us. How practical! But then again, that’s our God!
Growing fruit takes exercise!
Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 4 that we are to train ourselves to be Godly, which is our key verse and motto at Fit Pastor. This means that growing the fruit of the Spirit is like growing a muscle. The muscle is already a part of us but we have to choose to use it if we want to see any growth. We have to exercise faith and believe that we have everything we need for growth. When we exercise our ‘spiritual muscles’ the resulting growth will make us more compassionate, more empathetic and kinder. It also helps us be more joyful, more peaceful, and gentler, with the common strand of love. That’s the Fruit of the Spirit! As we choose to seek to mature, we’ll see evidence of this growth and the impact it makes on others. Here’s an important point though: growing the Fruit of the Spirit relies on the Holy Spirit producing His fruit in us, with the Holy Spirit’s power making changes in our lives day by day. Seek, and then work, to BUILD your fruit!
Closing thoughts on fruit
Let’s look at the text that started this off one last time. Paul writes in Galatians 5: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
We often will read (or maybe even memorize) the components of the fruit but we don’t often look at the impact of it which we see in the verses that follow. I could write probably a bunch of blogs on this but instead I’m going to encourage you to read it reflectively and talk to God about how this applies to your life. May we all seek to live in this manner and let our lights shine!
