Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
When I read that list I see characteristics I would like to see in myself, but I also see all the ways in which my life doesn’t line up with the fruit of the Spirit.
The Greek word for fruit refers to the natural product of a living thing. Paul used fruit to help us understand what is produced by the Holy Spirit, who lives inside believers. This fruit is produced by the Spirit, not by us, and as we grow all of these characteristics will become evident in our lives.
Just like physical fruit needs time to grow, the fruit of the Spirit will not grow and develop in our lives all at once. In a garden we have to guard against weeds to enjoy fruit, in the same way we must constantly work to remove weeds of our old sinful nature that wants to choke out the work of the Spirit.
– Tanya Phillipps