Fruit-full

Day 10

Galatians 5:16

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Paul gives wonderful wise godly counsel for living. Living by the Spirit will help us not… not do the things we should not do. Just live by the Spirit. Again, one of those things that is easier to say than it is to do. But fortunately for us, Paul tells us exactly what “live by the spirit” means. For this I am so grateful, aren’t you? No guessing games here.

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ”

We are to live: fruit-full. I used to be intimidated by this list of perfect words, now I love reading them because I know of God’s grace. His grace conquered the law.His grace covers my mistakes. It is God’s perfect grace that helps me live beyond who I am naturally so the world can see who He is.

I love how Paul ends verse 23, “against such things there is no law.” There is nothing against love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Nothing.  Just like the fruit we eat is beneficial, the fruit of the Spirit benefits us and brings no harm to others.

One of my favorite commentators, John Guizk has this to say about fruit.

Fruit has several important characteristics.

• Fruit isn’t achieved by working, but is birthed by abiding.
• Fruit is fragile.
• Fruit reproduces itself.
• Fruit is attractive.
• Fruit nourishes.

Self-control is key to successful fruit-full living.When we can control ourselves (allow ourselves to be under submission to the Spirit’s guidance) then all the others can become like second nature to us. Now that is something to could get excited about; having the nature of Christ as my nature.