"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: Galatians 5:22-26

 May 15

"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another." -Galatians 5:22-26 (NRSV)

May is a month when fruit trees bloom abundantly. If you have ever visited an orchard in May, apple trees are beautiful with sweet smelling profuse blooms of all colors-depending on the species of the apple. Large orchards in New England can host over 20 different varieties of apples and usually have peach trees, pear trees, and some cherry trees. If fertilized well and visited by bees, healthy trees produce fine crops of thousands of bushels of fruits. Unhealthy fruit is discarded.

Fruits of the Spirit are much like those produced in well cared for orchards. Just as a fruit tree is expected to bear fruit, God's people should also produce an abundant crop of good deeds manifested in Fruits of the Spirit including: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control". We are of little value if when Christians in name only and not producing these fruits. If others can't taste sweet fruit in the way we treat them, we need to reconsider what tree we may be attached to. Is it a barren tree isolated from God's orchard and left unattended without the fertilizer of God's Word and the Water of Abundant Prayer?

Many try to be good, honest people who do what is right. Yet Jesus says the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to him, like a branch attached to a healthy fruit tree. Apart from Christ our efforts are bound to be unfruitful. Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ? If so, your sweet Fruits of the Spirit will be obvious to all by your loving good deeds.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, May I share life-giving spiritual fruit today and every day with those around me. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God's fruit never spoils or decays.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)