10/40 The ninefold fruit of the Spirit

God wants our lives to be good. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and He fills us with the Holy Spirit, we are transformed. We become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The fruit of the Holy Spirit will sprout and grow within us. Galatians 5:22 describes this fruit of the Spirit in more detail. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ," meaning these nine virtues will become part of us, and slowly but surely we will put away our fleshly desires such as sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, contentions, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, revelry, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21). This kind of thinking will disappear from our lives, while the fruit of the Spirit will continue to increase and grow.

Like any fruit, the growth and development of the fruit of the Spirit takes time. God's grace enables us to change and become new creatures, ever more like Jesus. Paul summarized it in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. " Change may take time, but God expects us to allow ourselves to be changed. The Holy Spirit will work these virtues in us:

1. Love

This is about agape love, that is, divine, benevolent love. Agape love always wants the best for others, regardless of their behavior. Loving others with this unconditional love is something we can only achieve with the help of the Holy Spirit.

2. Joy

This joy is rooted in faith in Jesus Christ. God wants to give us joy that is independent of external circumstances. Joy in the Lord remains our strength and stays with us, even when we fail to accomplish something or circumstances aren't as we hoped.

3. Peace

Shalom is a peace that doesn't just refer to a truce; it means calm, order, and prosperity in a comprehensive sense. We can experience this peace especially on God's feast days and days of rest. God gives us inner contentment, joy, and serenity. In God's hand, we sense his infinite rest.

4. Patience

We can certainly use patience, long-suffering, and perseverance in our lives. God is patient. "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Psalm 103:8) God is very patient with us. He continually gives us the opportunity to turn around and repent. Shouldn't we, too, learn to be more patient?

5. Friendliness

Kindness is a virtue, the appreciative and amiable behavior of a person toward their social environment. When we are kind, we show interest in others. We use tactful words. A kind word, a polite request, and a grateful heart are all part of this kindness.

6. Kindness

Kindness and friendliness are similar. A kind person is kind, gentle, compassionate, and benevolent. They adopt a generous, considerate attitude toward others.

7. Loyalty

Faithfulness and faith belong together. The Holy Spirit awakens faith in our hearts. We learn to trust God in everything. God is faithful, and we too learn to believe in God and follow him faithfully.

8. Gentleness

God wants to awaken gentleness in us. A gentle person can submit to God's will. They are open to change and accept correction. A gentle or humble person keeps their anger in check, but does not become so compliant and gentle that they lose their inner composure.

9. Self-control

Self-control, or chastity, curbs our desires with the help of the Holy Spirit. Those who control themselves become capable of helping and serving others. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we no longer need to sin or serve sin, but can live for God.

• Whoever sows love will reap love.

• Whoever sows joy will reap joy.

• Whoever sows peace will reap peace.

• If we plant good things, good things will grow.

   

God is pleased by every kind word. He is pleased when we are patient and, for example, help someone cross the street or put on their shoes. God likes it when we behave chastely—that is, pure, abstinent, and modestly. The Holy Spirit helps us purify our relationship with God, our Father, and bear new fruit in our lives.

Jesus Christ was the man who was like a tree planted by streams of water (cf. Psalm 1:3). He continually bore fruit for God by revealing the Father in this world and doing His will. The ninefold fruit of the Spirit was also clearly evident in his life. Jesus demonstrated his love for his Father through his obedience, which culminated in his death on the cross for us. In the midst of danger, hatred, and hostility, he enjoyed a peace that surpasses all understanding. We can see this, for example, when Jesus slept safely on the boat in the midst of a storm (Mark 4:37, 38). He demonstrated patience as he patiently and tirelessly explained God's Word to his disciples and explained the things of the coming kingdom. He did good deeds, was kind and patient, he was a faithful witness of God, and he was gentle.

Are we ready to allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow and live according to God’s will?