The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23)The fruit of the Spirit is God's character revealed in the believer's life. God is love (1 John 4:16), meaning love is God's essential character - his DNA. If Horation Caine of CSI: Miami fame were investigating God, he would no doubt look for traces of God's DNA.
Since we're his children, we share his genetic markers. God doesn't want there to be any doubt we are his. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:35). And related to this: Love . . . isn't always "me first" (The Message, 1 Corinthians 13:5). The sinful nature puts me first. The fruit of the Spirit helps us put others first.
Each of these spiritual fruits is a facet of God's character, in which we, as his children, are invited to walk. But how do we do that? How does God grow his character in our lives? When we lack patience, God will give us opportunities which demand patience. We're given a choice: We can either respond out of our default setting, exhibiting frustration, or we can call on the Holy Spirit to help us, thereby growing in the spiritual fruit of patience.
Difficult situations are evidence that he loves us so much he's inviting us to connect with him, that we might become more like him.
In which spiritual fruit do you particularly need God's help?
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