Spreading the Fruit

     When you think of fruit, you often think of an apple or a pear. They are the edible, reproductive (contain seeds) part of a plant as opposed to a carrot or turnip that are grown from seeds, but don't contain seeds. The Bible speaks of the fruit of the Spirit of God. This fruit is the result of a life lived to the glory of God.

     In Galatians 5:22-24 (NASB), we learn about the specific fruit that is produced by those who are living in alignment with the Spirit of God, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." It's interesting the term "flesh" here refers not to actual skin, but the sin that dwells within the skin of a man. His old ways, habits, and desires that do not belong in the life of a "born-again (spiritually)" believer. 

     Fruit is often referred to as the fleshy part of a plant and it contains the fertile seed, which in many plants, is not edible. An interesting, if not a bit off-putting, way that seeds in the wild are transported is via animal scat (feces). The animal dines on the fleshy part of the plant, wanders on its way, and "delivers" the non digestible seed in a new area, away from the original plant, so the two plants don't compete for resources such as sun and water. They can spread out their little branches and start reproducing fruit uninhibited by each other!

     So what does all this mean for Christians? We can spread the fruit of the Spirit in all kinds of situations, some might even stink, but when we yield our flesh to Jesus Christ, He can produce seeds within us regardless of where we've been or how we got there. Those seeds can then grow into new, fertile opportunities to share God with others, by being light (sunshine) and refreshment (water) to people around us. 

     How can we be "light" and "refreshment" to hopeless people in this world? By sharing the sweet fruit we've been given by the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Who can't use a little piece of joy? How many people today wouldn't love a taste of peace? Those seeds are buried within us, if we only ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with them. Then, we can walk around a bit like Johnny Appleseed, spreading the fruit of hope and salvation that is found in Jesus Christ alone. 

Matthew 12:21 And in his name unbelievers will hope.