Fruit of the Spirit

Galations 5:16-25 (ESV)

Keep in Step with the Spirit 

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries,dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

The Apostle Paul listed the nine fruit of the Spirit as guidelines for newly converted Christians. It is a gift from the Holy Spirit giving us the characteristics of Jesus, so that we have an example for how we can live in step with the Spirit.

Every day we make choices. We can choose to live by the desires of the flesh or the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This can be a very tall order at times, especially as we deal with problems or temptations placed before us. It is easy to give in to the flesh and drink too much, eat too much, get angry or cheat on our taxes. At times our hearts are filled with envy or we are jealous and speak poorly of someone else. We lust in our hearts for material objects that become false idols. We are all guilty of some or all of these sins from time to time, but thankfully, our Father loves us and forgives us and gives us chance after chance to start over.

The good news is we have an example and can choose to make a commitment to a goal toward living and keeping in step with the Spirit. We are each a tree of life and capable of producing these different fruits. By our faith and the grace of God, all things are possible. 

In the weeks to follow, I plan to write about each fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I welcome your comments and thank you for being here.  God Bless You!