“…live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature…the fruit of the Spirit is love and joy…Galatians 5:16,22.
A key to a life of encountering God is to walk in the Spirit. We have been writing about this and now dive into the fruit of the Spirit at the end of Galatians 5. Really, as we look at this list, it is a character description of Jesus. As ever, we look to Him and His example for our own life. Just a reminder here that we cannot make fruit. Fruit grows from the health of the tree, just as spiritual fruit grows from the tree and the water source it grows beside.
It’s no surprise that love is the first aspect of fruit that is mentioned. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment is, He said it is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength – and to love our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:30,31). This is the embodiment of the Law. Paul tells us in the great Love chapter of I Corinthians 13, that love is the greatest gift of all – it is the fuel that all the rest run on.
Love involves self-sacrifice. I would meet weekly with the board chairman at the same restaurant, and we were always served by a personable young gal who had worked there for a long time. We missed seeing her for a while, so I asked another server about her. “Oh, she’s not here anymore – she’s moved to Lethbridge.” I asked why. She said; “I’ll give you one guess…” That’s sacrifice for eros love – the love of a maid for a man. But Jesus is talking about agape love – spiritual serving love. In fact, He even told us to love our enemies. This is not as much feelings as it is mind and will – we decide to do them good.
The more I know God’s love for me, the more I can show that love to people around me. So much ministry that happens in the church, and in the community by people from the church, is motivated by agape love. Huge money and huge time – we love others because Christ first loved us!
The fruit of the Spirit is also joy – deeper than happiness – a deep-seated delight in God. During our recent cruise I read the Acts account of Paul and the shipwreck – it seemed appropriate. What a thing for Paul to endure imprisonment on the ship, then to float to shore on a piece of the wrecked ship, then to gather wood for a fire and be bitten by a poisonous snake – all for God to receive the glory. He truly was willing to be a slave to God – and to write later from prison: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again - Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Knowing he was in Gods capable hands, we read of Jesus that he endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). Joy comes from knowing I belong to God and my future is sure. The older I get and the more people that I know in heaven gives me joy in knowing my future is secure in God!
There is a sense that we would like to have all of this wonderful fruit growing in our lives, but alas we are infected with being human. I love the picture of a tree in Psalm 1 – growing by the streams of water that brings forth fruit in its season. It tells me not to focus on improving my love or joy – or the other things in the Galatians list for that matter. My job is to stay by the water source – to let the Spirit inside have His way – to stay close to God’s word which is a living message to me – and to let the Holy Spirit produce this fruit in me – that over time it would grow to maturity. Relax, and let God have His way!
Pastor Leon Throness
