PRODUCING THE FRUIT

In this final devotional on the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, let me just discuss briefly some of the things we can do to help with crop production. First and foremost we must plant the Word (Luke 8:11, Psalm 1:2). Nothing can grow without coming from seed. The Word is the seed which produces the fruit.

Now if you are like me, the next step is actually harder than the first, both in my life and my garden. We need to be plucking weeds. That is the weeds that grow up in our hearts (Matt. 13:18-23). We need to be careful of what wealth or the desire for wealth can do in our lives (1 Tim. 6:9). "So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is a sin" (James 4:17). Sin comes into our lives and literally chokes away all good that is trying to grow.

After planting and in the process of weeding, we need to continually water our garden. How do we do that? We do so by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds. We need to make room for the Spirit through the putting off process. For everything we put off in our lives - we make room for the Holy Spirit to put things into our lives (Col. 3). We especially have to put off bitterness, rage and malice because they choke out love and can eat away at even the good in our lives. With those things out of our lives we can be blessed with kindness and forgiveness, which acts like fertilizer in our lives to help our fruit produce in abundance and quality.

Once our fruit is produced, God can harvest it to feed others, to bless others, to glorify Him and bring praise to His name. Remember we reap what we sow!

"The growing of fruit does not happen in a day - the process is a slow but steady unfolding of the blossom, the formation of the fruit and at last its ripening. Luscious grapes are not produced in one week nor does a gracious mind mature in a moment." (W. Phillip Keller)

Take a look at your garden
1. What is it producing?
2. What kind of crop?
3. Is the Master satisfied?
4. Is He getting what He hoped?
5. Is the fruit marketable?

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies

DIGGING DEEPER
James 3:2-5 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,he is a perfect man,able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yetit boasts of great things.