The fruit of the Spirit is …..
Galatians 5:22-23
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…ESV
This scripture is very familiar to most of us and today I want to consider the dynamics involved that impact this fruit being manifested through our lives. Our scripture tells us this is the fruit the Holy Spirit produces. It does not come through our human efforts or personal disciplines of self control. It only manifests by the Spirit through a yield, born again vessel, one who recognizes their need and is dependent on Him to do His work.
Without the yieldedness of the vessel to the Holy Spirit, the potential side effects of life’s harshness can result in diminishing our profession as Christ-like-ones.
Paul wrote to Timothy to 'endure hardness as a good solider’. With that instruction, we as the current resource of God on this earth, must know how to endure hardships while we allow our lives to be transformed and conformed into the image of Christ in the midst of circumstances.
I’m mindful of Jesus’ example in the book of Hebrews ‘ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross’. The Son of Man was anointed with the ‘oil of joy’ above all others. James’ also admonished us to “consider it pure joy when you encounter trials of many kinds”.
Without exercising these graces, empowered by the Holy Spirit, hardships can be the snare that so easily besets us.
Consider how ~
Hardships can produce hardness of heart.
Hardships can change what we believe.
Hardships can produce an evil heart of unbelief that cause us to depart from the living God.
Hardships can create a desire to escape.
Hardships can enhance an excessive sense of self preservation.
We would be remiss if we did not remember as well, the actual antitheses of the specific fruits Paul enumerates here in Galatians five.
We will never escape the hardships of this life. They will be with us until Jesus returns or we move to heaven. Jesus showed us the way. Prepared us with the word. Enabled us with His spirit and grace. Life can make you bitter or better depending on how you respond to your circumstances.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians that the grace of God given to them in Christ Jesus enriched them in every way so they were not lacking in any gift as they waited for the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1:4
While we are assured the Holy Spirit is at work in us to help during these times, it is our responsibility to lean into all that He is saying and giving, to believe that He is actually the one we need our help from. We know He leads us and guides us into all truth. We need His power, His might to strengthen us in our humanity’s weakness. Paul also wrote that Gods’ grace was sufficient for him.
Learning to lean into the grace so that it is not to us in vain and we are not found to be frustrating it; I believe, will become increasingly more needful as the world begins to watch the unfolding of events leading to the return of the Lord.
We are to examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith, so we can correct the areas that are needful, not by our own personal disciplines but rather by the spiritual graces that draws us further into the only one who can help us in our time of need.
We know we are growing up into Him in all things when our first response in and through hardness is the display of His fruit. When I am weak, there is a grace that is sufficient for me to overcome my own personality and feelings to show forth the Jesus I want the world to see. Not by my might but by His spirit; His Spirit in me, that I am yielded to.