Read: Galatians 5:1, 22-23
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 3:1).
Is There Some Fruit In My Life?
God’s Word assures us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” If these fruits are present in our lives we may assure ourselves that the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.
I do not depend upon any good works of mine to assure my standing with God. But I do depend upon God’s declaration that the presence of His Holy Spirit makes a difference in my life. I know that love is better than hate, joy is better than unhappiness, peace is better than conflict. I had rather be long-suffering and gentle than to be impatient and rough. I would rather be good than bad. It is better to have faith than to doubt, and better to be meek than to be fierce. My prayer is to be temperate rather than to be extravagant.
I claim no credit for these attitudes. In whatever measure they possess me, they are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Their presence is proof of God’s Spirit at work in me.
My Christian life does not reflect all of these fruits in equal amounts. None of them is full-grown or perfect. But I thank God for every one that His Spirit is nurturing within me. I can see that some of these fruits are larger than when I turned my life wholly over to God and allowed His Spirit to fill me. This knowledge brings renewed confidence and assurance. I testify with another growing child of God:
Dear Lord:
Ah ain’t all Ah wants to be; Ah ain’t all Ah ought to be; Ah ain’t all Ah’s gonna be; But still, thanks to de good God, Ah ain’t what Ah used to be.
— Author Unknown