The Fruit Of The Spirit

Everyone wants to be happy. Happiness is always a gift from God. But He gives it like a master gardener planting seeds in the spring. Not all seeds will sprout and flourish. God gives people free choice. Though God gives some to everyone, delight does not stay inside and grow, without being watered, like a plant. It can't be swallowed like a pill. Joy needs to be nurtured. But how do we nurture it? Certainly, everyone tries to do the things that make them feel pleasure. But that alone will not continue to work. Wanting to be happy starts out as a selfish desire, but in Christians, it quickly becomes a yearning for God to feel joy too. We cannot live in close quarters with someone we love, and be totally blissful if they are sad. Just so, if we choose to live close to God, our own joy blooms when we know we have made Him smile.

Yearning for God's smile, is experiencing a personal walk with Him. And a personal walk with God nourishes our own inner joy.

Smiles mean a great deal to me. A smile warms me, cheers me, and acts like fuel to my "happy tank!" I give lots of smiles to those I love, and yearn for smiles in return.

It's no different in the spirit.

The Bible illustrates our Christian walk with God, as a branch of a tree. Fruit only grows on a living branch. A branch can only live if there is sun, rain, and fertile earth. How do we, as Christians become a living branch? I've given this verse a lot of thought. Certainly, our sun, rain, and fertilizer must be communing with God, reading the Bible, and worshiping with other Christians. The Bible lists what the fruit that grows within us is.

* The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

* The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Ephesians 5:9

I believe these characteristics are gifts from God. They don't all come naturally to humans. For a Christian, one gift develops into another, like fruit ripening in the sun, little by little.

The Bible makes it clear that other people are watching us. The kind of person we are is noticed by others.

* Even a child is known by his doings. Proverbs 20:11

* You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns or figs of thistles? Matthew 7:16

* By their fruits we shall know them. Matthew 7:20

* Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5

* So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:12-13

Forgiveness can be very hard. At times in my life, I've really struggled with this. It takes spiritual maturity and awareness to be able to forgive injustice. But God forgives us. And we are to forgive others. It helps to remember that, as humans, we are not always just, ourselves.

* Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in Heaven. Matthew 5:10-12

* Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:14,15

The way to happiness is very carefully written. Like a recipe for a cake, each ingredient is important, and the icing is joy in your own heart. What a wonder, that God cares so much about our feeling joy, that He spelled it out so clearly to us! I praise Him for that.