Apples And Oranges!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
Galatians 5: 22-23
In the world of agriculture, God created everything for its own season.
Grapefruits, lemons, oranges hit their peak in the winter. Strawberries,
pineapples, and artichokes hit shelves in the spring. Summer brings
us blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes.
And we can hardly wait for the apples, grapes, and pumpkins
of the fall season. How wonderfully God created an agricultural
calendar to give us ongoing nourishment.
There’s one fruit, however, that’s constantly in season, the
fruit of the Spirit. These nine qualities (like grapes on one
cluster) should be growing and continually bearing in our life.
When we are rooted and grounded in Christ, the “sap” of the
Holy Spirit takes the nourishment of the Word and transports
it from the Vine (who is Jesus) to us, the “branches.”
Ask yourself: Am I more loving now than I was last year?
More joyful? Do I have more peace? Am I more patient?
Kinder? These qualities don’t suddenly appear. They must
be grown. They should be constantly maturing in our lives.
"No one can get joy by merely asking for it.
It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian
life, and, like all fruits, must be grown."
Henry Drummond
