Galatians 5:22, 23


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law ~ Galatians 5:22, 23

Jesus used images people could relate to when he spoke in parable form. Often people listening to him would hear stories about wheat, sowing seeds, and fishing. Paul uses the same type of imagery when he describes the Spirit of God when He comes to live inside the people that love Jesus. We are transformed by the Holy Spirit, by the grace of God as he inhabits our being. Paul says a bad seed produced a bad tree, bearing fruit which also was bad, whereas the good seed produced a good tree with fruit which was superior in every way. When we live without God in our heart we are the bad tree with bad fruit. When God comes into our heart and we are redeemed, the bad tree becomes a good tree with good fruit and the result is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against any of these for one reason – they all bring good to others and self. When we live with these aspects our state of mind leads to special qualities which affect how we will treat our neighbour. These become the principles which guide our conduct. Will I love God and neighbour? If I am full of the Spirit of God, yes, I will strive always to live that way. Do I have patience with the failings of others? Yes, if I am full of the Spirit of God I will recognize how patient God was with my failings and will hold others with the same grace I was allotted. If there is any lacking in the Spiritual Gifts within us, pray for increase of grace. In the end, we determine whether we will live life in the power and under the influence of the Holy Spirit and His gifts.

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