This is officially my ONLY day off until the end of October, so I thought I should take advantage of it and walk away from the emails and stop answering phone calls at least until 9am.
After dropping off my daughter, I meandered around our farm this morning and like a bee to pollen, I was drawn to our succulent grapes! While grazing, uh – I mean – while enjoying them — I began to hear the Holy Spirit speak to me about the sweetness of fruit and how that ties into the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Why did God choose to compare the attributes of His Spirit with fruit? Well, I’m sure the obvious reason is His word declares that we will know a tree by its fruit.
Luke 6:43-44
No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
Yes obviously we would recognize a tree, but we can also know a person by his fruit. Matthew 7 teaches us how to recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Matthew 7:17-20
Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
I can only assume the Lord would compare His attributes to fruit because most fruit is sweet and is considered a treat. People are drawn to sweet juicy fruit. I won’t tell you how many grapes I devoured this morning, but that is the thing about sweet fruit — it is so easy to eat. Each bite makes you want more until your stomach is full.
Now look again at the fruit of the Spirit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Forbearance (some versions state Longsuffering)
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Don’t these traits draw you just like sweet fruit? Who wouldn’t want to be closely knitted to someone who walked in the Fruit of the Spirit?
As Christians, we should be drawing others as well. Not for our own glory, but to point them to the One who set us free and gives us hope each day. Our lives should produce that sweet aroma that makes others want what we have.
Sometimes my fruit doesn’t reflect Christ, but I pray that overall — I have some sweetness that will smell similar to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. After all, I am His daughter. We all take on the attributes of those we hang around. Right?
What type of tree are you? People will recognize you by your fruit.
Thank you for visiting me today!
God bless you!
