If you have spent any time in church at all, or even around someone who has, you have probably heard the phrase The Fruit of the Spirit. What exactly is that and what does it mean?
In the book of Galatians Paul is speaking to the church in Galatia about walking in step with the Spirit. He is warning them not to give in to the works of the flesh, which will prevent them from inheriting the kingdom of God.
In Galatians 5:22 the scripture verse reads “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.” There are nine fruits listed and I will share them, three at a time, and explain the importance of each.
The first three are called upward qualities. They are Love, Joy, and Peace.
The Fruit of Love
I don’t think it is a coincidence that love is the first fruit of the Spirit listed. All the others flow from it. While most people thing of love as a feeling, love is a choice. A choice that is not subject to emotion or circumstance. Here are a few verses that can help us understand that:
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”- John 3:16
“but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end.” Lamentation 3:22
I don’t know about you, but when I read those verses, I see an unconditional, never changing love from God that we do not deserve. None of these verses even hint at the idea that love is a feeling that comes and goes based on our behavior, or whether or not we love Him back. Knowing that is how He loves us, we should strive to love in the same way.
The Second Fruit of the Spirit, Joy
When you think about the word Joy what comes to mind? A constant state of happiness? Never having a bad day? Not a care in the world and all is perfect? Well, that’s not at all what Joy is. If that were the case, none of us would ever experience true Joy this side of heaven. We all have struggles, bad days, lousy attitudes, and disappointments. True Joy can best be described as “the inward hope in spite of outward circumstances”.
James 1:2 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Does this mean we should be happy that we struggle or face difficulties? No, it doesn’t. But it does mean that we can be joyful in knowing that God will use it for His glory and for our good. We have that inward hope of something good coming out of our undesirable outward circumstances.
Peace, the third Fruit of the Spirit
Sitting on a lawn chair in the sand staring at the ocean. Relaxing in a hot bubble bath with no kids yelling under the door. The quiet drive home after a long day of work. Ahhh, how peaceful. That’s what you’re thinking right? Those are very peaceful situations indeed. But that is not the same as biblical peace that the scriptures speak of. It can be described as unexplainable calm during chaos.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Those are the words of Jesus in John 14:27.
Here Jesus is telling the disciples that He is leaving them and the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father to help them. He wouldn’t be sending help if things were going to be all beaches and bubble baths. He knows there are going to be troubles. He’s preparing them for that. He wants for them to have peace in knowing that they can be calm in the chaos.
Upward qualities
These first three fruits- love, joy, and peace, are known as upward qualities. They all have their root and purpose in how we interact in our relationship with God.
In part 2 of this series we will look at the three outward qualities. Those are patience, kindness, and goodness. And finally, in part 3, we will explore the inward qualities of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
2 thoughts on “The Fruit of the Spirit (part 1 of 3)”
Comments are closed.