Devotion: Galatians 5:22

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… 

We often hear about the fruit of the Spirit, so much so that it is easy to overlook exactly what it is and what it means in our lives. Today we pause and look closely at the fruit and more importantly, the Spirit that brings it. Pray that God enlightens you to new truths or helps you better understand.

Note that we call them all the fruit, using the singular form instead of the plural fruits. This is intentional. The original Greek uses the singular form, as well, indicating that these qualities are all interconnected and united. We don’t experience just one aspect. We are blessed with all.

The source of these qualities is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is at work within us, transforming us into righteous and holy individuals and we see the results of this transformation in the fruit we bear. We cannot cultivate these aspects ourselves. We cannot will ourselves to be gentler or more joyful. Rather, they develop as we walk in step with the Spirit. The fruit becomes evident when we seek to do His will and not our own, when we live a life that glorifies God.

The fruit we bear is all outlined by Paul in this verse. We experience love and joy, peace, forbearance (which is a form of patience or also sometimes translates as long suffering), kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. They seem simple enough to understand but these qualities are so much more than meets the eye. The love we experience is not simply romantic love or brotherly love. It is the love of God, His all encompassing, fully embracing total love, something we are not capable of creating ourselves. The joy we experience is more than a cheerfulness we feel, but a deep, inner feeling of ultimate happiness and fulfillment. The fruit of the Spirit is divinely inspired, Spirit filled virtues or qualities that are evidence of God’s work in our lives. It reflects His character and is meant to be shared with those around us.

Are you walking in the Spirit and experiencing these virtues? Pray and ask the Spirit to bless you with the fruit and thank God for the work He has done in your life. And then share the fruit with others. Love them as He loves, show kindness and goodness, be patient and faithful. The fruit of the Spirit is a divine gift meant to be celebrated and shared and we naturally overflow with it, pouring it out on others.

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