The Fruit of the Spirit

By contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

I cannot imagine a spiritual person who does not extol the value of these virtues. When encouraging others to grow in Christ, we are like good gardeners who look for the first signs of fruit. Physical gardeners rejoice that the plant, the soil, the sun and the water are producing what it should naturally produce. Fruit is the natural product of the plant. Work prepares the way for fruit. But we can't make fruit. It grows on its own.

Spiritual people are those who display spiritual fruit in their own lives. We are all ordinary people who serve an extraordinary God. People who have the fruit of the Spirit are not extraordinary people. Rather, they are demonstrating that God's extraordinary presence dwells within them. They are humble people who know that the work of the flesh is all kinds of sinfulness. But the gifts of God's Spirit, the fruit now evident in their lives, is a grace from above.

Listen to the words of Thomas Hart (from his article in Presence, March 2007):

"So how can you tell if you are making spiritual progress? Well, are you becoming more hopeful, more serene? Simpler in your lifestyle? More generous toward others? More accepting of each person as is? Readier to forgive? Are you more concerned to relieve human suffering and make life better for others? Are you growing more grounded in the gracious Mystery, from whom and for whom you live? Are you less anxious, less controlling, more trusting? This is the spiritual life. This is the practice of holy living. How profoundly challenging it is. It is a love affair with God, a venture of open-ended growth, the project of a lifetime."