Fruit Of The Spirit: Choice Or Tool
Fruit Of The Spirit: Choice Or Tool
While sitting in front of the fire doing my devotions I came across the verse of the day from Colossians 3:12. It brought a new aha moment for me.
I have always considered the Fruit of the Spirit to be a barometer for my walk with God. That perspective is usually accurate and helpful. Galatians 5:22-23 is the explanation of the Fruit of the Spirit.
Let me share Paul’s words:
“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 English Standard Version (ESV)
Let’s face it. We are better people when we are in a consistent and intentional relationship with God. This is true whether reading His Word, meditating on His plans, or considering God’s desire for our lives. The result is that our lives begin to reflect the character of our Heavenly Father in this world. More often than not love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are the byproduct of the “intentional relationship” and begin to be evident in our daily lives.
That’s why I love using The Fruit of The Spirit as a great tool in my life.
But, then there is the aha moment!
Back to the verse of the day. It is Colossians 3:12:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
This action is a choice as well. Not just a tool but a decision!
I put it in context and looked at the surrounding verses. These verses use the words “putting on” and “letting.”
Choices.
Listen to Paul’s full admonition:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Colossians 3:12-20 English Standard Version (ESV)
He is speaking to Jesus followers calling us chosen, holy, and beloved. We are to “Put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bearing with one another, forgiving one another,” and “putting on” love that binds everything together in perfect harmony. He tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and to be thankful to God.
Paul is acknowledging there are days we may not feel like any of the Fruit of the Spirit reigns in our life. We may have days that we have drifted from our communication and time with God. In those days of “crunchy attitude,” it is not enough for us to say, “Well, I missed a day or two in a quiet time, so I’ll have to get back spending the time.” It isn’t just a barometer; we can choose to do something about it by deciding to put on those things. I can stop at that moment and ask God to help me put those things on in my heart.
I had an opportunity this last weekend that was the perfect opportunity for me to implement precisely what Paul is referring to. But it has taken a bit to get my head and heart around putting ON the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s a choice.
I ran into a situation where the person was disrespectful. Not to me but to people I knew. It was a business situation and the man was inappropriate and dismissive in a public manner. I did mention that this activity or attitude wasn’t even directed at me. Hmm. Well, I blew a gasket with those around me. The man never had a clue but those around me did. I did. There was no logical reason for my response but God knew it must have hit a trigger of which I was not aware.
A little while after I got alone with God He reminded me of my mission statement: “To teach people how to reach their God-given potential through the power of Jesus Christ.”
That moment with God stopped me cold in my tracks. The Fruit of the Spirit, not one item on that list would have been found in my response. And yet it was in stopping…getting a moment to ask God: “What on earth was my response about?” Acknowledging I hadn’t spent the quiet time with Him that helps me in my overall…everything. Understanding that I might have been a bit sleep-deprived, perhaps off-kilter in jet lag, out of rhythm (that includes God at the beginning of a day) that could have contributed to my response.
Perhaps there are lots of reasons that could have contributed but at the end of the day, I had a choice. Get better or be bitter. Better was a good plan. So, I asked how?
Interestingly it was the next morning that I had my aha moment on “putting on” and “let” the part of Colossians 3-12 came to my attention when I was spending my quiet time with God. It wasn’t that I was spending time that the Fruit of the Spirit miraculously enveloped me. It was in being taught that I have a choice: fumble through the “crunchy attitude” or chose to PUT ON the Spirit “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
That did change my perspective with that situation. Also, it changed my understanding of the “whys” regarding my response. Did I need God to heal something in my heart, change something in my attitude, forgive someone, or God addressing something in my character to make me a better person?
Choosing to “let the peace of Christ rule” in our hearts means we choose to submit our will and emotions to God. “Putting on” the Fruit of the Spirit means we make an intentional decision to have God’s will and character a part of ours. Not always an easy task.
But at the end worth it all. For me, peace does find it’s home in my heart. I can be a reflection of my Heavenly Father to those around me. I then am able to fulfill my mission to teach others how to fulfill their God-given potential through the power of Jesus Christ.
Today are you able to submit your will and emotions to God using the Fruit of the Spirit as your guide?
