Adding More Good Fruit to My Faith

When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, he replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." In Jesus' response, I find my purpose in life - loving God with all my being and loving others as Jesus teaches me to love. But the greatest commandments are difficult and I need guidance to follow them.

Jesus Teaches About the Vine and the Branches (John 15: 1-2, 5) 

Jesus used several agricultural parables in his teaching. The one about the vine and the branches teaches me about how important it is to remain in Jesus - grafted into his body.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  

I have often worried about failing God because I have not been a great "fisher of men." But I think there is more to this fruit analogy than soul winning. God is glorified if I abide by Jesus' command to love others as he loves me. I also take comfort in his promise that if you "remain in me" you will bear much fruit. And I feel truly grateful that Jesus chose me to be a branch. But what is this fruit that Jesus wants me to produce?

Spiritual Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)

The apostle Paul wrote that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility) and self-control (temperance). Love is listed first and foremost. The other spiritual fruits flow from love. 

When I first considered the words Paul listed after love, I found myself making random word associations. For example, joy and peace remind me of the Christmas spirit. Joy to the World. Peace on Earth. Kindness makes me think of specific caring people but it also makes me think of "random acts of kindness." The word goodness is a tough one because it is used so casually as a substitute for God. Oh my goodness! For goodness sake! When I think of the word patience, I am frustrated that I don't have more of it. The word faithfulness naturally brings to mind marital fidelity but the word means being steadfast, dependable and worthy of trust in any relationship.

My seemingly random walk through Paul’s list even took me to Sesame Street. I thought to myself, One Of These Things (is Not Like The Others), one of these things does not belong. What does self-control have in common with joy and peace or kindness and goodness? I was thinking of self-discipline over the body, of resisting temptations of the flesh. But exercising control over my emotions and desires, especially in difficult situations, is a reflection of love. Exercising control of the tongue is an act of love. Being patient is an act of love.

What general observations can I make about spiritual fruit? Fruit of the spirit is not seasonal; it is an eternal gift of salvation. Spiritual fruit does not produce random acts of goodness but intentional acts of love. Fruit of the spirit is powerful. To anyone who has ever been hurt by an unkind word or uplifted by kindness, the power of love is obvious. Finally, spiritual fruit must be nurtured so we can be productive and effective Christians.

  

Adding More Spiritual Fruit to My Faith

Peter wrote that Jesus has given us everything we need for a godly life but we should strive to produce more good fruit (2 Peter 1:5-8).

For this very reason, make very effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In another letter (1 Corinthians 13), Paul emphasized that love is the most important fruit. No matter what you accomplish in this life, if you do not have love, you are nothing. No matter what you possess in this world, if you do not have love, you gain nothing. Paul described love like this:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In this beautifully written description, love stands in stark contrast to the desires of the self. I decided to describe the other fruit of the spirit in the same way, though my descriptions are certainly not as eloquent as Paul’s. Each paragraph is an affirmation that the fruit of the spirit is an expression of love. What does it not do? What does it always do?

Love is joy; love is gladness. It does not despair, it does not complain, it is not sad. It is not depressed, it is not ungrateful, it is not easily discouraged. It keeps no record of disappointments. Love does not dwell on past regrets but looks ahead with hope. It always delights, always rejoices, always praises.

Love is peace; love is serenity. It does not fight, it does not cause discord, it is not argumentative. It does not cause dissension, it is not belligerent, it is not easily angered. Love does not delight in strife but promotes goodwill. It always pacifies, always restores, always mediates.

Love is kindness; love is compassion. It is not harsh, it is not cruel, it is not condescending. It does not disrespect, it does not insult, it does not ignore the needs of others. It always welcomes, always gives from the heart, always shows mercy.

Love is patience; love is forbearance. It does not quit, it is not easily provoked, it is not obstinate. It is not exhaustible, it is not easily frustrated, it does not fail. It always perseveres, always endures, always persists.

Love is goodness; love is morality. It does not deceive, it does not steal, it does  not cheat. It is not greedy, it is not unfair, it does not cause harm. It is always just, always righteous, always pure.

Love is faithfulness; love is devotion. It does not break promises, it does not betray trust, it is not disloyal. It does not dishonor its commitments, it is not insincere, it does not lack integrity. It is always loyal, always trustworthy, always true.

Love is humility; love is modesty. It is not arrogant, it is not proud, it does not condescend. It is not pretentious, it is not haughty, it is not pious. It is always willing to serve others, always eager to submit to God's will.

Love is temperance; love is fortitude. It is not greedy, it is not self-indulgent, it is not easily tempted. It is not profane, it is not impulsive, it not weak. It always abstains from excess, always exercises restraint, always practices moderation - especially in matters of the heart.

Behaviors, thoughts and attitudes that are inconsistent with the fruit of the spirit prevent me from loving others as Jesus commanded. So I pray, dear God that you will test me and show me the offensive ways in me. Prune me so that I will be more fruitful. Add to my faith even more fruit of the spirit.