Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ~ Galatians 5:19-21

What type of fruit comes out of our lives? There is the fruit of the Spirit and fruit of the flesh. For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord of their lives, something will happen. The Holy Spirit of God will produce fruit in our lives. There are nine of them: Love, Joy and Peace [directed toward God]; Patience, Kindness and Goodness [directed toward others]; Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control [directed toward ourselves]. As we allow the Lord to work in our lives, the Holy Spirit of God who guides; teaches; encourages us will be the one to produce the nine fruit of the Spirit. It is called the 'fruit of the Spirit' and not fruits because the first fruit which is love, from out of it will produce the next eight. It is God's love that was poured out to us and it will be the first fruit that will show in our lives and the following eight will come thereafter. They will be like a cluster of grapes.

On the other hand, the natural/unregenerated man produces fruit as well: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife...etc.

The question is which fruit is manifested in our lives? Let us take time to examine our own lives and what it produces, honestly assess and come to God and surrender all those that are not in line with His will and permit Him to work out the 'fruit.' He'll take care of the 'fruit!'

Have a God-filled week with family and friends!