Fruiting!

Fruiting!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 KJV

The Context and Contention:

Wherever there is a BUT, it is good to look at what comes before. The proof of a life under the control of the flesh is laid out in the verses before today's extract. You can't produce anything outside of the seed you have planted or nurtured. Whoever sits on the throne of my heart will be revealed by my daily pursuits and priorities. It is called 'fruit' because the Spirit is also like a seed; He is God, living in us and producing His own kind of life in us. He is like a seed that is planted in man, and if allowed to thrive, will produce fruit that will look exactly like what has been described above. As I take stock again, can I say of a truth that my life reflects the nature of the seed of God in me? 

Like all seeds, there is the impact of time, effort and nurturing. No good seed grows well without effort; I must keep weeding, watering and working to ensure the seed has the right environment to grow into fruit. In this instance, everything the Spirit has made clear is wrong must be avoided. I must seek to know more and more about what the Spirit desires, and be quick to align with it. Whatever weeds there were from the old life must be uprooted completely, so that the seed of the Spirit can thrive. 

The Charge and Conclusion:

As I take stock, I note that the fruit is referred to in the singular, despite the fact that 9 elements are mentioned. It would mean I can't pick and choose what makes me comfortable; it is a complete package, and my life must have all, and in increasing measure also. There may be areas where I am still struggling, but total surrender to the Spirit is the only guarantee to growing and fruiting. The Spirit supplies the grace, strength, wisdom and power to live right and show forth proof of the presence of God. 

There is no human law on earth that can make any of these 9 elements an offence. How do you turn joy into a sin when its seed is not of human origin? That which the devil cannot birth, impact or sustain is not subject to human law. It is the Spirit that produces these 9 elements all at once, and His Presence guarantees that nothing of this world can tamper with the fruit, unless and until I allow the devil in. He will keep trying, but as long as I hold on to the seed of the Spirit, I am guaranteed eternal life with God. That is a life to look forward to. God's time of favour is here.