Fruit of the Spirit

Another guest blogger, Steven Thomas Stone! Steven is a high school senior and has a BIG heart for orphans and the poor. He is a very bright light in this world!

Fruit of the Spirit

As a senior in high school, my first semester is a wee bit stressful when I actually take the time to slow down and think about what I have to do. From juggling school, school organizations, work, and church, it can get a little overwhelming. And of course, we cannot forget the choosing a college. Ah yes, the single choice that gets me ready to enter the net 4+ years of my life. And when I look at a college, there are several things that have to be looked at and considered: first and foremost, does it have a bevy of majors that are at least in the ballpark of what I want to do? What's the student body count? Student to teacher ratio? Living arrangements? Distance from home? COST? All of these are carefully deliberated and thought about before I even come close to choosing a school.

Of course, there are those out there who are only focused on certain aspects such as: major, campus life, Greek life, football (sad, but true), etc. These people are willing to say no to a few preferences in order to get wat they really want and are good at. For instance, if a school is perfect for their career, but cannot afford to live on campus, then they may have to live at home.

Sadly, I think we have all become accustomed to our lives that are perfectly customized for us in just about every area, that this sense of entitlement bleeds over into our spiritual life. The prime example is in a commonly used teaching of Paul in Galatians.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of your sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:15-25

This is a passage most who have attended church have heard at one point or another, yet it is one of the passages of scripture that is almost always interpreted incorrectly, mainly due to this idea of picking and choosing. First off, it's not that hard to get: follow the Spirit, not the flesh b/c it's dark, horrible, sinful, despicable, and no good comes from it. It then lists acts of the sinful nature that we should avoid, ok pretty much everyone agrees that that's all bad and don't do it, and if you don't agree then you just need Jesus and I'll pray for you.

BUT, it's the next few verses that are always mis-interpreted. People read the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit and decide, "Ok, if I truly want to know if I am being led by the Spirit, then these characteristics will be evident in my life." But they use these characteristics like spiritual gifts for instance, "Oh well, I'm really good at being gentle and kind....but not so great at self- control." or, "Well I've got self-control and joy down, but I am not the most patient person in the world." And their next statement is usually something along the lines of, "O well, i guess Im just not meant to be a ____ person." (fill in the blank with area of struggle).

This error is brought to you by the letter "s". This is all because they misread one word and add an "s" to it. Let's take a look. The verse DOES NOT say, "The fruitS of the Sirit..." It says, "The fruit of the Spirit..." These are not a bunch of individual fruits of the Spirit, they're not side items, it's a combo deal. They are all CHARACTERISTICS of the fruit of the Spirit. In other words, if you truly are living by the Spirit, ALL will be evident in your life. Not some, not one, not all but one, all. Plain and simple. We do not get to pick and choose here, if we are truly following the Spirit, these will all come naturally as fruit of that decision.

No, you're not going to naturally be good at all of these, but the Holy Spirit will work on you and reveal when it is that you could have done better, and if you are willing, will slowly chip away at you and help you with the traits you have trouble with. Now I'm not saying that you're gonna be perfect at it all the time, I'm sure as heck not, but you will slowly begin to see the opportunities you have to share these traits. If you can't see them yourself, pray God opens some opportunities for you, I promise He will. God Bless