Life by the Spirit – Pt. 2
The acts of the flesh are undoubtedly behaviors and habits we should avoid, but life in the Spirit can’t be simplified to a checklist of do’s and don’ts. It’s easy to take a peek in Galatians 5:16-23 and try to simplify. But instead of things I should try to avoid, it’s “things I should really try to do or have more of in my life.” But again, the list is both prescriptive and descriptive. We are of course to aim for those qualities. We see that commanded elsewhere in scripture. But this passage is different. It’s “the fruit of…”
There are a few things God has taught me about fruit:
Fruit is the product of the seed it comes from, not the branch is grows off.
I read an article a few years ago that contained some hard hitting truth that I would label was a major “course correction” in my thinking.
I spent many years trying to improve my “performance” only to find it always ended in failure and frustration. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty in scripture that we are commanded to do. Focusing on our connection to Christ doesn’t remove any responsibility that God has given us to intentionally strive for godliness in our lives (1 Timothy 4:7). But fruit is different. Fruit grows because of the seed it originates from. If I plant apple seeds in my yard, my responsibility is to make sure it’s positioned in the sunlight in healthy soil and has the nutrients it needs to grow. My job isn’t to decorate it with plastic apple ornaments. The filling of the Spirit is evidenced in the fruit of the Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit is more about connection than performance
I heard a great analogy recently from JD Greear. His daughter had recently accepted Jesus into her heart. After explaining that He had indeed taken up residence in her heart, she looked perplexed. She approached her dad and asked, “How tall was Jesus”?” He replied, “I’m not sure… maybe 5’10-5’11?” She paused before asking, “And how tall am I?” He replied, “Maybe, 4’6?” She pondered for a moment and then said, “Well then shouldn’t He be sort of sticking out everywhere?”
I chuckled at the story because children are so literal, but in reality, it’s the truth. When His Spirit takes up residence in us, the fruit should sort of stick out everywhere. The more connected we are, the more the fruit of His Spirit will be evidenced in our lives.
As we strive to be filled with the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit, use both lists of “symptoms” to assess how “filled” you are. Ask God to help you realize your need to be regularly emptied out so you can be filled with Him and to change your focus from performance to connection.
Mom/Pastor’s Daughter/Teacher/Women’s Ministry Team Lead Stephanie grew up in the household of a church planting pastor. Many years of watching her parents joyfully serve in fruitful ministry have led her to have a similar passion for reaching the lost and sharing God’s truth with women through Bible study, doing life together, and more recently, blogging!
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