Profound Reflections on the Fruit of the Spirit

Daily Devotional – Monday, February 6, 2023
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

One Sunday afternoon, while resting outside my house, I had profound reflections on the fruit of the Spirit. The old avocado tree that has provided nutritious and abundant fruit for generations was the catalyst of my thoughts.

Bearing Fruit Effortlessly

To begin with, while I do not know who planted the tree, I know it has an inbuilt divine mechanism that makes it produce fruit. The avocado tree cannot defy this principle. It obeys God’s natural law without question. That is the secret of its fruitfulness.

Secondly, the tree does not struggle to bear fruit. Every season, it flowers naturally and in due time tiny fruits appear. A number of insects help with pollination. Eventually the mature fruit appears, effortless.

Producing Fruit Gradually

Thirdly, there is no magic in fruit production. We do not wake up one day and find ripe fruit ready to pluck or collect. The tree cooperates with the forces of nature for some months before the final product is ready. It is a process.

Now to the lessons from the fruit of the Spirit. Paul introduces this fruit thus, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Transforming Influence of the Holy Spirit

One. It is the fruit of the Spirit, not yours. The nine graces inherent in this fruit are the outworking of the Holy Spirit in the human heart or mind. When you allow the Holy Ghost into your life, you begin to demonstrate godly character because of the power of God in you. You are not naturally joyful or peaceful. The Spirit makes you so.

Two. When the Holy Spirit enters a willing individual, that person does not struggle to be patient, kind, longsuffering and so on. The soul undergoing sanctification obeys God naturally. By cooperating with the Holy Spirit, you become righteous without struggling just as the avocado tree bears fruit effortlessly.

Profound Reflections on the Fruit of the Spirit

Three. You do not become perfect the moment you accept Jesus Christs as your Saviour and Lord. It is a process. Fruits takes time to develop and grow before it is ready for harvesting. If you are struggling with impure thoughts, anger, jealousy, malice and so on, remember you are work in progress. The best is yet to come.

Is the fruit of the Spirit manifest in you? Can those around you attest that there is a divine power working in you? If you have not invited the Holy Spirit into your life, take up God on His challenge, “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may bear the fruit of the Spirit.