Devotional - Galatians 5:22-23

 Is it a Fruit or a Gift?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”. 

An article by the New York Botanical Garden defines a fruit as a mature, ripened ovary (along with the contents of the ovary). The key word in this definition is mature. This implies that a process takes place long before the fruit becomes visible and ready. The perfect imagery for this is a farmer who sows seeds, waters them, and patiently waits as they germinate, grow, and eventually produce ripe fruit ready to be enjoyed.

Similarly, the fruit described in our anchor scripture represents the outcome of a believer's devotion and personal walk with God. It reflects the depth of our intimacy with the Holy Spirit. When we spend time fellowshipping with God, in prayer, worship, meditation on the Word, it forms certain characteristics in us. We are changed into His image, causing us to birth the fruit of that experience which is described in our anchor scripture (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is simply the nature of God expressed through us.

God has called every believer to a life of intimacy with Him, and this life requires devotion, discipline and sacrifice. However, in today’s fast-paced world, where many are distracted and disconnected from deep fellowship with the Lord, we tend to view devotion as rare, and therefore, assume it must be a “gift” for a select few. But that’s not what Scripture teaches. The reality is this: if we don’t walk in the Spirit and with the Spirit, we cannot expect to bear the fruit of the Spirit. And when we see someone who does and the fruit following them, we shouldn’t label it as a gift. It is the fruit of their obedience and relationship with God. A gift is given freely, but to yield fruits requires work, an input on our part.

The good news is that every believer has the potential to bear this fruit if we set our priorities right and pursue the presence of God daily.

Prayer

Father, thank You for your Word. Teach me Your ways, Oh Lord, and help me to walk with you in truth so that I can manifest the fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!