‘But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!’
(Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
I love fruit.
Grapes, Bananas, Pink Lady Apples, Pears…you get the idea!
There’s something about the natural sweetness that fruit gives, it’s not manufactured, fake or over-the-top. It’s just the right amount.
I encountered a situation recently that got me thinking about fruit. More specifically, the kind of fruit that the Bible talks about – the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
This particular situation required me to dig deep into my saved character rather than my unsaved self!
Real fruit was needed in this circumstance, not fake niceties or plastic politeness.
I’ll explain some more shortly…
The law of the Kingdom of God is incredibly important. It gives us a clear view of the kind of behaviour and expectations that the Lord God has of people who call themselves His.
We know that, in the New Testament, Jesus did not come to abolish the law of the Old Testament, but to fulfil it:
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”
(Matthew 5:17, NLT)
So, we can surmise that the law, both Old Testament and New Testament, carry plenty of weight, even in our modern day.
I would even go as far as to say that the New Testament demands more of us.
For example, in the Old Testament we are admonished to not commit adultery.
However, in the New Testament, we are encouraged to not even look upon another brother or sister with lust in our hearts.
Grace demands more.
Grace Demands More
Back to the story…
I was in a jam-packed coffee shop and had been waiting for a good while for a table. I’m a pretty patient person, but what happened next really tested the ‘good fruit’ in me!
A couple of ladies walked in after my lengthy wait for a table and, either not noticing me waiting or ignoring the fact, took the table that had just that moment become available.
I was indignant!
It wasn’t fair! I had been waiting for a long time, exhibiting the kind of peace and patience that the Scriptures encourage, but to no avail.
I decided to grab a take-away flat white and say something to the ladies on my way out.
As I approached the table where the ladies were sitting, I felt a check in my spirit.
Let it go.
I don’t have a problem with healthy confrontation and was simply planning on letting the ladies know that I had been waiting a lot longer than them for an open table.
No arguing needed.
No offence taken.
Just honest confrontation.
But, as I say, something rose up in me as I walked towards them that said ‘keep walking.’
I believe, as a Jesus-follower, what rose up in me in that moment was the fruit of the Spirit.
Now, if you are my mum or dad reading this who got the brunt of my frustrations post-fact (eek!), please do not judge me for the now-composed version of myself I am painting here.
I was annoyed.
I was upset.
But I moved on.
I raise this situation, this topic and this scripture because I believe that there are ways and means to achieve peace in any given situation.
You may need to confront some people about their behaviour to achieve peace.
You also may need to breathe and walk on by to achieve the very same thing.
As I approached the table where the ladies were sitting, I felt a check in my spirit…
Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I didn’t feel like it at the time but, somehow, the fruit that God has been cultivating in me over the years that I have known Him won that day.
Friend, if you are struggling to make peace with the unsaved, uncouth version of yourself, know that salvation and sanctification are God’s work.
He does not expect perfection from us, nor does He call us to passively-agressively live our lives in timidity and without any form of healthy confrontation.
But in situations as comparatively small as mine at the coffee shop that day, you may be called to a different way of handling things.
This is called allowing the Fruit of the Spirit to rise up in you, and reminding your fleshly reactions to take a back seat.
It’s tough sometimes. Sure. But God will honour it.
He always does.
Keep allowing God to work on your saved nature but give yourself grace also when situations test the sweet, sweet fruit being developed in you.
Photo by Allec Gomes on Unsplash
Living The Jesus Life 