Known By Their Fruits!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law."
Galatians 5: 22-23
The Bible has contributed more expressions, idioms, and
metaphors to world literature than any other source. One
of the well-known is the phrase “wolf in sheep’s
clothing.”
Wrongly attributed to Aesop, ancient Greek collector of stories
and fables, “wolf in sheep’s clothing” comes from the teachings
of Jesus in Sermon on the Mount: “Beware of false
prophets,
who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
How do you distinguish wolves from sheep? Jesus’ answer:
“Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20).
The true nature of people will ultimately reveal itself by their
words and deeds. Paul said as much when comparing those
who live by the Spirit of God and those who live according to
their carnal nature.
The outward manifestation of both separates the two.
Specifically, those who live by the Spirit reveal the life
of Christ—what Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit.”
The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t mean perfection.
But over time, Christ in us will be evident to others.
"A machine can do work;
only life can bear fruit."
Andrew Murray
