The FRUIT Of The Spirit

“The fruit of the Spirit is not push, drive, climb, grasp and trample. Life is more than a climb to the top of the heap.”

- Richard J. Foster

This may not be the proper way to write a devotional, but I can’t help but take a few moments to say thank you to Pastor Jared for this series. It has been amazing! I loved the way he stated that it is not about simply waiting for Heaven, but that God wants to get the party started in each of us right now. He wants each of us to become NOW, not later, our best Forever You.

Back in the beginning of the series, Jared reminded us that we can’t cherry-pick the Fruits of the Spirit, as they are a manifestation of God’s Spirit at work in us. Yesterday, he reiterated that statement when he pointed out that it is the FRUIT (not fruits) of the Spirit, yet he also shared that some of the fruits may be leading or lagging behind the others. When we come to know Jesus, the seeds of all nine are planted in us and God is at work cultivating each one of them to make us the best Forever You we can become.

The Psalmist, in Psalm 1:2-3, explains the process to us:

2 “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

3They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Prospering, in this context, is not about material wealth, but about changing from the inside out, not for ourselves, but because we have found something and someone far greater than ourselves for whom and what we have no greater desire in this life than to better love Him and love others.

May our quest not be for outward appearance, but a forever changing from the inside out by the work of God’s hand.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day.

- Max Lucado

Pastor Ken

‍