But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Throughout the Bible, as a believer in God, the Fruit of the Spirit is something we are directed to strive for in our lives, to embody, to emulate. I know, though, on some days it’s really hard to keep our minds and tongues glued to that fruit, isn’t it?
It’s so hard sometimes to keep our minds set on those beautiful fruit when those we look up to and identify with are wandering to other not so beautiful fruit, right? Fruit such as judgement, discouragement, dissension, impatience, unkindness, meanness, disloyalty, harshness, inflated ego. Seeing them written out, these tarnished fruits don’t look very appealing, do they?
Why then are we so easily swayed to jump in the basket with them?
Because we are human. We’re faulty. Life is hard and having a good laugh is stress-relieving after a hard day. I think at one point or another, we all have jumped right into that basket before realizing what we have done and just how brownly tarnished that fruit really is.
So, how do we avoid jumping into the camaraderie of that tarnished basket of fruit?
Once again, our Faithful Father has provided the answer to that question. Look what Philippians 4:8 says:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Aaahhh, don’t those words sound beautiful? They just lift my spirits reading them! Tell me, which sounds better to you: truth, or lie? How about: honorable or mean? Or: lovely or unkind? Ooooo Oooooo, can you see my hand excitedly waving in the air so eager to say which ones are correct?
That’s right, it’s not hard to choose the right ones when looking at them together. They are the ones that inspire a smile, and goodness, and mercy in our hearts. Not a frown and ugliness.
Therefore, the way to avoid jumping into the basket of criticism, meanness, dissension, and unkindness, is to purposefully keep thinking and seeking the good things around us. The honorable things. The truth. The right, pure and lovely. The admirable things. The worthy of praise things. These are the beautiful shining Fruit of Life!
Yes, sometimes it will be hard, but the more practice we give to thinking about and seeking out the right things - the beautiful, shining fruit, the easier it will become. And before you know it, that stinking basket of fruit will be distastefully sticking out in your eyes and in your nose for the nasty fruit it is. Yuk! I don’t want any part of that basket, do you?
I have to just leave this right here: cruelly making fun of another person, no matter age or status, and no matter the reason, is gleefully jumping right into that nasty basket of stinking fruit! Yes, it is!
We must be very careful in our political election seasons, to keep our minds set on that beautiful, nutritious fruit basket, as our leaders seem to be drawn to the tarnished, dehydrated one. Let’s set the example and not jump into that basket with them. We know what we, as Christians, are called to do.
Seek the Fruit of the Spirit, the Fruit of Life, not the ugly Fruit of the World, and stay well hydrated!
Dear Faithful Father,
Thank you for your beautiful Fruit of the Spirit, and all your directive Words to help us through life. I'm sorry for the times I jump into that stinking basket of fruit, not realizing just how rotten it is. Please help me stay out of that basket! Please speak to my mind and heart, reminding me to seek out the beauty of your good fruit. The truth, the lovely, the pure, the gentle, peaceful, loving, and kind. Please lead me to the basket of your pure life giving beautiful fruit!
Thank you, God, for being my faithful guide.
I love you.
Amen
Love, blessings, and beautiful fruit!
Mindy 🩷
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