AppNotes

January 26, 2021

Fruit is evidence of a thriving garden. Bushes heavy with tomatoes and zucchini rampant on vines indicate a healthy garden. An abundant crop results from adequate sun, water, and minerals—everything needed for robust growth. Sometimes lack of one of those elements causes “bottom-rot” and renders the vegetable unusable. Evidence of God’s Spirit in us is in our fruit: lives of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These may be slow to mature because growth is a process, but always fruit is developing in us when conditions are favorable. The sun, water, and minerals of favorable fruit production in the Christian life are time in fellowship with the Son, regular watering with the Word, and the rich elements of obedience, thankfulness, and faithfulness to God. Walk in those disciplines. Keep in step with the Spirit’s work of growth in you. Avoid the “bottom-rot” of sin. Fruit will bloom in you. 

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:16-25 NIV
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.