Fruit

 Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

When we receive the Holy Spirit, we begin to change from seeking to gratify the flesh to wanting to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit doesn't grow overnight. Nevertheless, we are to be increasingly defined by love, joy and peace etc.

Jesus epitomises these virtues. If we want to know what love, joy and peace etc. look like, we need to look no further than him. His love look him to the cross; his joy enabled him to scorn the cross's shame as he anticipated his glorification; and he's at peace with Father God, in the centre of his will.

Christ is patient with us: he doesn't expect to see fruit overnight necessarily. He's both strong and kind, as the song reminds us. He's good: we can trust him in the hardships of life.

The Lord is faithful- he doesn't give up on us. He is gentle- he isn't harsh with us. He's self-controlled- he's disciplined, even when he's righteously angry at sin.

'Lord our God, we're grateful for the fruit you're beginning to bear in us by your Holy Spirit. Help us not to look to our fruit, but to our Source, the true Vine, in whom we have life and vitality. In his name, amen'.