The Fruit of the Spirit – Introduction & Love
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
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When I got to thinking about our next study, I knew that it had to be on the fruit of the Spirit. After all, can’t we all use a little more love, joy, and peace? Do we really need to wait until Christmas to have it, or could it be that God wants us to live an abundant life, right here and right now? Not a situation where everything is handed to us, or we’re living it up on Easy Street, but rather a sense of contentment and joy found in Christ alone.
Paul says, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” It’s easy to be content when everything is going our way, but is that really contentment if we’re happy one minute and discouraged the next? The reason the Fruit of the Spirit is satisfying is that it blooms from within. It’s not dependant on the shifting circumstances around us, but rather a firm hope in an unchanging God. I often say, “The same God Who brought me this far will bring me much further yet.”
Galatians chapter five dictates what fruit we should bear. The Amplified Bible outlines them well:
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, Amplified Bible)
If creation itself can bear fruit that is good for The Master, can’t we? It’s a shame when an apple tree produces more fruit in a year than its owner, but it doesn’t have to be that way. When we walk with the Lord, and delight in His will, we will produce fruit in abundance.
In Mark 11:12-14 we see Jesus cursing a barren fruit tree. Some people are confused when they read this since Mark also mentions that it wasn’t the season for figs. But, here’s where the problem lies: there were leaves on the tree giving Jesus the impression that there would also be fruit. Now I’m not sure exactly what the leaves would look like during fruit season, but I do see that Jesus saw it from a distance. In simple terms, author David Guzik describes this as “false advertising.” John the Baptist called out the Pharisees saying that they must bear fruit in keeping with repentance. The idea here is that the tree, like many today, was representing itself one way and living another.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (Matthew 3:7-9, KJV)
There are a few ways in which fruit and vegetables differ, one of the main ways however is that a fruit will always bear seeds. It’s for this reason that a banana is generally considered a berry and strawberries are considered to be a fruit.
Meriam Webster writes, “Anything that grows on a plant and is the means by which that plant gets its seeds out into the world is a fruit.”
By this, we see a parallel to the divine purpose of fruit. While it makes for a wonderful life, it’s not all that it does. As we’re bearing fruit, we’re sowing seeds that draw others to Christ. The Bible says whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly. And so, we must be fruitful in every good work. Walking in a manner that is worthy of our calling. Living in such a way that is pleasing to God.
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10, NIV)
As we embark on this study, let’s begin by taking a look at the tree, the root system, and the source of our strength. For fruit is nothing without the tree from which it is born. If the tree is bad, and if our root system is weak, the fruit of that tree will suffer.
It only makes sense that fruit comes from a tree doesn’t it? After all, the cross (also referred to as a tree in scripture) takes center stage in our faith. Without the tree there would be no salvation, there would be no resurrection, and there would be no reconciliation with God. Everything we do stems from our faith in Christ and His work on the cross.
Looking to Exodus chapter 15, we see the Israelites travelling in the wilderness when they happened upon a well of bitter water at Marah. We can only imagine how horribly bitter it must have been if they went three days without water and still couldn’t drink it.
So, what does God do? He tells Moses to cast a tree into the water, and when Moses does–the water is made sweet. Do you see the analogy there? Do you see what makes the bitter sweet? The tree on which our Savior hung–the cross. There’s transforming power in the message of the cross, and when that cross takes center stage in the heart of man, it makes the bitter sweet.
Charles Spurgeon writes, “The cross in the heart is the purifier of the soul; it purges and it cleanses the chambers of the mind. Christian! keep thy heart pure, for out of it are the issues of life.”
The first thing to understand is that a tree doesn’t go searching for fruit. It produces fruit from within. When the tree is healthy, the fruit is healthy. Its job is to drink in the water, to soak in the sun, and to stretch forth its roots. The deeper the roots, the stronger the plant, which is why mature trees stand firm in the wind.
Those who seek to find joy apart from their faith are like branches that long to bear fruit apart from the vine. But when we abide in Christ and He in us, it’s a natural extension of growing in grace.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, KJV)
“All these things” include love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… abundant fruit of a life that abides in the vine.
Here’s an interesting fact: a species of fig (Ficus, family Moraceae) from the Transvaal of South Africa was determined to have roots reaching at least 400 feet. (Encyclopedia.com) You won’t see that tree break and bend in the wind! So it is with those who are grounded in Christ. They’re the ones strengthened by the winds of adversity. The ones with deep seated roots, who stand firm in the eye of a storm.
Anne Graham Lotz once wrote, “Faith is like a tender plant, rooted in Christ alone, watered by the Spirit and the Word, strengthened by the winds of adversity and the sunshine of blessing.”
After hearing that quote, I got to wondering if trees were in fact strengthened by wind. Could it be that they’re building muscle in the same way that we do? Was resistance training the key?
And then I happened upon an article about “The Biosphere 2,” an experimental ecological facility built in the late 80s by the University of Arizona. This enormous ecological system (spanning 40 acres) was complete with its own rain forest, wetlands, fog desert, farmland, and ocean. What caught my attention the most in all of this wasn’t the fact that it had its own ocean. I mean, that was pretty amazing, but even more amazing than that was the fact that the trees were weakened by a lack of stress wood which is normally created in resistance to wind. (Source: Wikipedia – Biosphere 2)
Who would have thought? You eliminate the wind, and you eliminate the tree’s natural ability to be strengthened by it.
In the same way, we’re strengthened every time we exercise faith against the winds of adversity. Every time we choose love over hate, peace over stress, kindness over anger, and joy over disappointment we’re exercising a life that produces good fruit. We’re building the resistance muscles that we need to stand strong in our faith.
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Chapter 2 – Love
In our study this week, we’re unfolding the story of the Prodigal Son, revealing the deep, unconditional love of his father. In addition to that, I’d like to share another story from scripture that beautifully illustrates the essence of Agape love—God’s boundless, selfless, and unwavering affection for us.
In John chapter 4, Jesus meets a woman at a well in Samaria. This, in itself, is a remarkable act. Jews typically avoided Samaritans due to deep-rooted historical and cultural conflicts. But Jesus, always teaching us by example, did not allow societal barriers to impede His mission of love.
When He asked the Samaritan woman for a drink, He defied norms. But in doing so, He opened the door for a meaningful conversation and a life-changing revelation. He knew all about her—her past mistakes, her present situation. Despite all that, He offered her the living water, the gift of salvation, freely and without judgment.
The woman at the well might have been expecting criticism, judgement, or even indifference. What she found instead was pure Agape love – understanding, acceptance, and the offer of a fresh start. Isn’t that the very essence of Agape love? It doesn’t judge, it doesn’t hold past mistakes against us, and it never gives up on us.
My dear friends, we are called to love like this, too. It’s not an easy call. It’s much simpler to love those who love us, to help those who can help us back, to reach out to those within our own circles. It’s far more challenging to extend love beyond those borders, to people who might be different, or difficult, or distant.
And yet, isn’t that what Jesus did time and time again? He loved tax collectors, fishermen, sinners, and Samaritans. He loved not because it was easy or because He expected something in return. He loved because it was His nature, because it was His mission – to show us the Father’s love, the perfect embodiment of Agape love.
As we walk through our days, let’s remember the woman at the well and the love that transformed her life. Let’s strive to be bearers of that love, to share it generously with others, not because they’ve earned it, but simply because they are children of God, worthy of His love.
Agape love is powerful. It mends hearts, breaks barriers, and changes lives. And every time we choose to love in this way, we’re not only following Jesus’s command, but also allowing His love to flow through us. So, let’s be bold in our love, let’s be unrelenting, and let’s be gracious, for in doing so, we echo the voice of our Savior, spreading His love one act at a time.
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