The fruit of the Spirit

The message of Christianity is that God can give us a new nature. While some claim to be Christian, Jesus told us that we could know the tree by the fruit it produces. A closer look at the characteristics we can expect from true believers will encourage us. The Apostle Paul describes the fruits of the Spirit in detail in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

The Greek word for love is agape. This is the kind of love that God has for us. The key to loving others is loving God. John writes in 1 John 4:20, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." The cure for hatred is a life transformed by faith in the one true God.

The joy that comes from faith in God transcends circumstances. Someone has said that happiness happens, but joy abides within. Knowing we are loved and forgiven by God inspires us to endure the challenges of life. The other day, I watched Super Bowl LIV. When I watched it live, I was nervous that the Kansas City Chiefs would not be able to come back and win like they did throughout the playoffs. However, watching a replay is a different experience. Our joy is in believing our future is victorious.

Love, joy and peace come from our relationship with God. When we are at peace with God, we can experience the peace of God. We forfeit our peace when we give in to worry. There is so much in the world that we cannot control. When we come to terms that God is in control and we can trust him, we can have peace that surpasses our understanding, Philippians 4:7.4.

The next three characteristics are patience, kindness and goodness. The idea of patience is that Christians can endure injustice inflicted by others. No one can deny that Christians are persecuted all over the world. We may not think about that since we live in a country where most people claim they are Christians. According to the characteristics we are considering, the actual number of Christians is probably much lower. No one should have to endure persecution for his or her beliefs.

Kindness and goodness can be seen in how Christians minister to their communities. Historically, Christians have organized charities and started hospitals. Those who attempt to make the world a better place for everyone exhibit these fruits.

The last section of the nine fruits of the Spirit is faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the principles that guide a Christian's conduct. I had a friend who once said two honest people do not need a lawyer. What he meant by that was that if both parties are faithful to their word, there would be no need for a legally binding contract.

Gentleness is a characteristic Christians display during an offence. The word can also be translated meekness and it is a term used for restraint. Not that a person is weak or powerless, but that he or she chooses to remain calm during a conflict.

Self-control is one of the most challenging characteristics for anyone to achieve. Sometimes we identify a Christian by what the person does not do. Christians are not perfect; they are people who have trusted in Jesus and who live to please God. Many people desire to overcome habits and addictions. A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit is satisfied by an influence that is greater than any other substance or illicit relationship.

There is no law against these character traits -- the fruit of the Spirit. Society would be better if everyone embraced this faith. There are some people who believe they can force people to act loving and accepting of others through legislation. Only God can change a person's life to this degree. The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit that will remain, John 15:16.