Today’s Encouragement is Galatians 5:22-23a (NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
This Kind of Fruit –
Friends, our lives of Faith are a continual process of growth with God. Just as a tiny seed becomes a green shoot, then a sapling, then a strong tree, and then bears wonderful fruit in its maturity, in the same way, our lives in Christ are growing, and maturing! And when mature… then good, healthy, fruit is produced.
Abundant, delicious, and nourishing fruit comes from mature trees, which are well-watered and deep-rooted. And this is our Christian life… Deeply rooted in God’s Word, in His Love, well-watered by the living water of Jesus Christ and matured by time in His presence, in His Word.
And the result of this spiritually healthy maturity … is not an angry judgment of others, not arrogant condemnation of sin, not self-aggrandizement, not prideful separation from the ‘lowly’. Instead, the clear marks of true rebirth into Christlikeness are these fruits-
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.”
These are the indicators that God’s transformation, spiritual maturing, is occurring in the life of a believer.
The absence of these fruits, my friend… is a clear, loud warning… that there is a lack of Christian maturity.
Father, first help us to grow in this type of maturity, becoming mature believers in Christ, and then to demonstrate these qualities in all our relationships. And also help us to discern these qualities in others, so that our spiritual teachers may be clearly known. We ask in Jesus’ Name.
Selah III
Hillsong Young and Free
Today’s Encouragement 