What is your favorite fruit? I love so many different fruits; I find it hard to answer that question. The fruits that top my list include raspberries, strawberries, passion fruit, and figs. Sometimes, I think I could survive on just fruits alone in my diet but then I realize I might miss some meat and some veggies too. I even planted a fig tree so I could eat fresh fig whenever I wanted but unfortunately, they take a long time to ripen, and my patience wears out while I wait. I want them to be ready on my schedule, but instead, I need to wait until they mature to enjoy them.
[bctt tweet=”As we become more like Christ, the seeds mature and produce the fruits of the Spirit.“]
My fig tree reminds me of Biblical times since Jesus talks about figs with the disciples. Recently, as I checked my fig tree for signs of ripening, I thought about the story of the fruits of the spirit. We find the nine fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5. Once we accept Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit moves in and starts tilling the soil of our hearts. He plants the seeds in the fertile ground and waits for them to grow and ripen as I expect for my fig tree. As we become more like Christ in our Christian walk, the seeds mature and produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Like any garden, we must guard against weeds growing up and killing off the ripened fruits. Our old sin nature can arise to choke out the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. The garden of our hearts requires constant pruning. We must allow the Holy Spirit to grow us and shape us into the image of Christ. When His work becomes accomplished in our lives, the fruits will mature and become visible to the world around us. Our purpose in this life is summed up in John 3:30 (NIV) ” He must become greater; I must become less.” When the fruit of the Holy Spirit grow in my life, people will see Christ in me and want to learn of Him.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV) “17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Over the next several weeks, we will look at each of the Fruits of the Spirit in detail in hopes of gaining an understanding of how they grow within each of us. Hopefully, by the time we finish our study, the fruit on my fig tree will be ripe enough for me to pick.
[bctt tweet=”The garden of our hearts requires constant pruning. We must allow the Holy Spirit to grow us and shape us into the image of Christ.“]
The first fruit we will discuss is love. In this sense, we are looking at our love for our friends and our neighbors, not romantic love. Love gets mentioned 319 times in the NIV version of the Bible. Love remains a central theme throughout it also, and I think that is why it is the first fruit. Jesus died for us on the cross because of God’s love for us. Love is also one of the most recognizable characteristics of a Christian. John 13:35 demonstrates this by telling us “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Everything we do should reflect the love of Christ to others. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 proclaims that without love we are nothing as well as explains what our love should look like. Love is the anchor for all the other fruits because without love, none of the others are possible. When we have love for everyone, our hearts are ready for the Holy Spirit to do His work within us. Love is the fertilizer that grows all the other fruits.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) “1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
[bctt tweet=”Love is the fertilizer that grows all the other fruits.“]
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
I often forget this …. The garden of our hearts requires constant pruning. We must allow the Holy Spirit to grow us and shape us into the image of Christ. Thank you for this reminder.
Be Blessed
Thanks for adding your thoughts. God bless
Hi Yvonne! I wish I could plant a fig tree in my yard, but alas, I live in the upper Midwest and only apple and pear trees can handle the harsh winters here. But I love how God uses the natural world around us to teach us about the spiritual world within us. I love the fruits of the Spirit especially. God is still working on growing those in me, especially patience. Good post – – thank you!
Thanks Lisa. I am learning patience especially with the fig tree, it takes months for them to ripen and if I don’t get them fast enough, the birds get them. God teaches me a lot with the tree. God bless
“Like any garden, we must guard against weeds growing up and killing off the ripened fruits.” Reading this message on “bearing fruits” makes me even more grateful for second chances. Thanks Yvonne sharing this message with us. I love every bit of it.
Thank you so much Kay. I appreciate it. God bless
Hello Yvonne
My favourite fruit is Cherries although Apple Pie is my favourite desert…
As for the fruits of the Spirit Love is such a challenging and enriching one. Whether giving or recieiving love enriches all involved. No wonder it is mentioned in such a powerful way in these verses.
To be known for you love of others. Wow what a challenge that is to us all
Thanks for adding your thoughts. God bless
I like the awesome explanation that “Love” is the fertilizer to all of the other gifts of the spirit. This is so true! God has taught me so much about love, and I’ve seen that fruit blossom more and more in my life! Great inspirational read Yvonne!
Thank you. I appreciate your thoughts on the fruits.
That’s the second time today I heard/saw that idea–that love feeds/fertilizes the other fruits. That’s my cue to pay attention. Thanks for being God’s instrument with such an important message! God bless!
You too Nancy!
Hi Yvonne,
I can identify with what you said about finding it hard to wait for fruit (literal and of the Spirit) to ripen. I’m so impatient, and want God to work powerfully – yesterday. I’m so thankful the Spirit is fighting for me, and against my sin nature, to keep maturing me.
I also appreciated the way you reminded us of the connection between literal fruit, and the fruit of the Spirit. Even though I think God intends for us to move from the creation to deeper truths, I find that I often don’t think like that. Thanks for this reminder!
Great thoughts Bryan. Thanks for commenting and God bless.
I love this quote, “When His work becomes accomplished in our lives, the fruits will mature and become visible to the world around us.”
The garden and fruit imagery that you’ve gleaned from the Scriptures really enforces the long, but worthwhile growth process we traverse as children of God.
Thanks Chloe
Amen, Yvonne. Weeding, constant pruning, and growing in Christ all lead to robust spiritual fruit in our lives! My favorite thing is how love is the fertilizer that grows the other fruit.
Thank you Karen for adding your comments
I love this topic, Yvonne. It reminds me that I can love the fruit, but I have to plant the right tree. It’s funny that in my life I’ve tried planting busyness, but that tree gives me fatigue. Only with a life rooted in the Holy Spirit will I get the good stuff.
In your study, have you found any other fruit other than the 9 in Galatians?
Good question about other fruits, I will search and see what I can come up to address in future posts. Thanks
This concept of bearing fruit isn’t looked at deep enough. I like that you explain it through the concept of a seed and it growing. If we truly bear Godly fruit it will be nourishing and life giving to the world around us. Great job Yvonne!
I love how Jesus brought everyday items into his teachings so that we can constantly be reminded of what he said. I enjoy how you use your experiences to steer us to His truths. You do it so well.
Thanks Stephanie. I am glad God made understanding our faith so easy. The difficulty is walking in it always
Yes, “love is the fertilizer that grows all other fruits.” Great reminder to constantly be aware of the fruit that we are bearing to ourselves and others around us. Blessings!
Amen and thanks Nicci
Love is the fertilizer. That’s something to ponder. Could it also be the cause itself, too, for because of God’s great love, he redeemed us and sealed us with his Holy Spirit, thus producing this fruit of love in us. Discussions about the fruit of the Spirit uncover so much. There’s always so much here!
Good thoughts on it being the cause also. More to ponder. Thanks
This series is going to be fun! It’s a rich topic, Yvonne!
My favorite fruits are love, joy, and peaches. Love this post, Yvonne.
Thanks Heather
There are so many Biblical truths to be found in God’s creation. I love this analogy, Yvonne. I pray the Holy Spirit will keep nourishing and pruning the fruit in my life, so I can offer a fruitful love to those around me.
I just finished writing a post on the Fruits/Gifts of the Spirit. Would you mind if I include this post as something for further reading?
Thanks for your thoughts and no problem with including it. I am always amazed at how God plants the same message in multiple hearts to get His word out. God bless.
I know! I couldn’t believe it when I saw your post! A beautiful thing!
Let m know when you post yours. I am currently writing the second part of my series so can include a link to yours.
I will do that for sure. Thank you, Yvonne, for including me!
Reposted here https://melissamclaughlinheartsong.com/2018/10/22/fruits-gift-and-talents-whats-the-big-deal/
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