“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life…”
There was a man who made a fruit salad for his family every Christmas. The fruit salad was made of apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, and blueberries. It was something everyone looked forward to at Christmas dinner. Each year, he assembled all the ingredients needed and used them all to make a wonderful Christmas dish.
On occasion, someone might say they didn’t like apples or oranges in the fruit salad. They would ask for the fruit they didn’t like to be left out. But the man replied, “Each fruit has its own job to do. Together, it is crunchy, sweet, soft, tart, and colorful.”
And the man was correct. Each fruit played its own role. Together, it had everything needed for a tasty fruit salad.
In a similar way, the fruits of the Spirit work together to give us everything we need to live a godly life. Each of us needs the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If any fruit is missing, it leaves a gap in our spiritual preparedness, a weak area that can result in difficulties or struggles. But together they fully equip us to live out the purpose and plan God has for our lives.
Ask yourself: How well are the fruits of the Spirit operating in my life? Are you impatient? Do you struggle with self-control? Are you often worried and distressed rather than at peace? None of us are perfect, but all of us can be more fruitful. The Bible says that sometimes the reason we don’t have things is because we don’t ask. So ask. Ask God to produce any missing fruit in your life so your “fruit salad” will be complete. It’s a request he will gladly honor.
Dear Father, I recognize now more than ever the importance of the fruits of the Spirit. I know each of the nine fruits are essential elements that equip me to live a godly life. I ask you now to develop the fruits of the Spirit in my life. Help me abide in your word and your love. Let my life be fruitful and filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus’s name, amen.
Family Worship Center Devotionals 