What happened to the fruits?

Galatians 5:22-23  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control......

Last week, I was with a group of people when a young man walked up to one of us and with a smile said: Jesus loves you, I’d like to talk to you about Him”. They both laughed because they were both colleagues and had known he was joking but something about the conversation that ensued caught my attention. She said to him: you cannot preach to me you know? You haven’t been filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues”. Wow!

This is just one silly comment, I thought but then let’s pick a lesson from this. Just like the lady, we (believers) have unconsciously (and also consciously) ruled out the need to develop and exhibit the fruits of the spirit and replaced it with the need to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We tend to judge our spiritual growth (others’ too) by the gifts of the Spirit we manifest instead of the fruits that we bear.

The difference between trees should be the kind of fruits they bear and the same is applicable to people. Just like a tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears and not by the Resources (Air, Water, Sunlight) it receives freely so also, a believer is known by the fruits he bear not by the “Gifts” of the Spirit freely bestowed upon him by Grace. The life of any believer who manifests the gifts of the Spirit but lacks the Fruits is questionable.

Both the gifts and the fruits are of great importance but I dare say that it is more profitable (especially to the world) that we bear the fruits than to manifest the workings of the gifts.

Paul said: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (paraphrased)

If you have no love for people, how then can you preach the gospel of love (Christ) to another?

If you lack Joy, how can you relate effectively with others?

If you do not show kindness, how can you tell an unbeliever that God is kind?

If you lack self-control, how can you walk in holiness in this world of diverse (mouth-watering) temptations?

 Just as every believer should crave for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we must as a matter of priority, work out our salvation and bear the fruits of the Spirit. Remember ...by their fruits, you will know them (Matthew 7:20).

                                           

                                      ...........Grace....