A very reworked life will not be measured by outward appearances however by inward fruit. In Galatians 5:22-23, we see an image of what the Holy Spirit produces within the lifetime of a believer: love, pleasure, peace, endurance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These will not be persona traits or targets to attempt for; they’re the supernatural proof that God is at work inside us.
The fruit of the Spirit is the alternative of the works of the flesh, which embody envy, strife, and selfishness (Galatians 5:19-21). We don’t bear non secular fruit by attempting tougher; we bear it by abiding in Christ (John 15:4–5). The extra we stroll with Him, give up to Him, and permit His Spirit to form our responses, the extra this fruit will develop naturally in our lives. In keeping with Bible scholar Adam Clarke, “Each flesh, the sinful inclinations of the human coronary heart, and spirit, the modified or purified state of the soul, by the grace and Spirit of God, are represented by the apostle as bushes, one yielding good the opposite unhealthy fruit; the productions of every being in accordance with the character of the tree, because the tree is in accordance with the character of the seed from which it sprung.”
Every facet of the fruit of the Spirit displays Christ’s character. Love for the unlovable. Pleasure that endures hardship. Peace amid storms. Endurance when examined. Kindness to the undeserving. Goodness that stands agency in a damaged world. Faithfulness in each season. Gentleness in a harsh world. Self-control when temptation strikes. These traits will not be indicators of perfection however of God’s presence. In verse 16, the apostle inspired believers: “This I say, ‘Stroll within the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh’” (KJV). Scholar John Darby observes, “It’s not by placing oneself underneath the legislation that one has energy in opposition to sin. It’s the Spirit . . . who’s the Christian’s power.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to indicate you which of them space He needs to develop in you. Don’t be discouraged if progress feels gradual. Fruit takes time to ripen, and the fruit of transformation will take time to manifest, however God is trustworthy to finish what He began (Philippians 1:6). Keep rooted in His Phrase, stay in shut fellowship with Him, and watch your life develop into a show of His remodeling grace.
