Galatians 5:22-26 – “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.”

Sometimes, I am challenged unexpectedly by the Spirit of God.   Today, as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, I faced a challenge that demanded deep introspection and elicited repentance and resolve.

A passage quoted frequently by believers is Galatians 5:22-26.  “But the fruit (singular) of the Spirit (the fruit the Spirit produces) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

The challenge was, “Are these the characteristics of your life?”    It would be easy to superficially say YES or to justify deficiency, saying, “I’m trying, or I’m human.”  I knew better than to give such a casual response.

• Do I love ALL THE TIME?
• Am I joyful ALL THE TIME?
• Do I live in a constant state of peace ALL THE TIME?
• Am I ALWAYS patient?
• Do I manifest kindness ALL THE TIME?

What about goodness?  The Greek word translated as “goodness” in this verse is agathosune, which is defined as “uprightness of heart and life.”

Some examples of this would be:

• Confronting someone about a sin.
• Giving to the poor.
• Providing for one’s children.
• Visiting the sick.
• Volunteering to clean up after a storm.
• Praying for an enemy.

That is a small sampling of examples.   But what about faithfulness?  Is that an all-time characteristic of my daily walk?   Do I struggle with gentleness?  And a big one, self-control, is that evidenced in my attitude, words, and deeds?

Paul’s challenge or revelation to the Galatians is driven home in verse 24 – “NOW (present tense) those who belong to Christ HAVE (past tense) crucified the flesh WITH its passions AND desires.”   If I belong to Christ, then this is my state.  [Emphasis mine].  That is incredibly challenging.

In verse 25, he says, “IF we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.” Being Spirit-led is not just receiving guidance about where to go and what to do; it is about every detail of life!   Paul urged them to live in a way that inspires others to live the same way.

Galatians 6:1 is intertwined in this life of the fruit of the Spirit.  We all have the capacity to become entrapped and sidetracked by the flesh.  Therefore, the life marked by the fruit of the Spirit always seeks restoration in gentleness, vividly remembering that we, too, could be in that failed condition.

If the fruit of the Spirit is the mark of my daily life, I can live in perfect peace and restore others.  In Galatians 6:6-10, Paul packages it and reminds us of the law of reciprocity (Reap what we sow, good or bad).

My cry is, “Lord, help me to ALWAYS exhibit, as the real fruit of my heart, the fruit of the Spirit ALL THE TIME, EVERY TIME!” Is that possible?   If it were not, it would not be in the Bible.  Galatians 5:16, “But I say, live by the Spirit, and you WILL NOT carry out the desires of the flesh.”

I am being challenged and facing my flaws.  What about you?  Let’s set our hearts to be those who always manifest and bear the fruit of the Spirit.  It will be our greatest evangelistic tool.  It will impact everyone and everything around us.

Let’s face our flaws and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us!