But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; (Galatians 5:22,23 ESV)
Fruit
I was around eleven years old when I discovered the joys of fruit. My mom had planted some ugly, scraggly, brownish plants behind the garage. I had helped, a little bit. But mostly those plants were put in the ground, and other than an occasional spray with a garden hose, were left alone.
I was shocked, pleased, and amazed when raspberries appeared one week. Those berries had been growing for a while… but they were hidden behind leaves, in shadows, or simply unnoticed by my flitting and unobservant mind.
I asked, “Why? Where did THESE come from?”
I was told, “They are raspberries… and these are raspberry bushes.”
No matter how much I might have wanted cherries instead, or pears instead, or kiwi instead… the bushes had raspberries. (Yes, I know some of those are not technically, “fruit…” but you know what I mean.) Not because I had gardened a particular way, or worked particularly hard, or planned successfully. But because raspberry bushes get to have raspberries.
The commonly labeled “Fruits of the Spirit” are easily misunderstood. They are not commands, ought to’s, Christianity tests, or obligations. The Fruits of the Spirit are results of our relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
They happen.
And they are wonderful. Even better than raspberries.
We judge ourselves and others, though, as lacking when we do not observe those Fruits. But like my raspberries, those Fruit are there. Perhaps hidden. Perhaps unnoticed. Perhaps unsought.
But we get those fruit! For the next few weeks, we will examine those tasty fruit, those healthy fruit, those fruits that come not from work, or effort, or even knowledge… but from who we ARE in Christ.
The Fruit of the Spirit come from Christian bushes.