Growing Spiritual Fruit

Yesterday I dragged Husband to one of “them thar ‘spensive” grocery stores looking for exotic fruit. God created some I’ve never even tried: dragon fruit, star fruit, and rambutan. When you’re semi-retired, this is called “living on the edge.”

I have a hard time trying new foods; my mind is usually made up before the first bite. Kiwi stands alone in the “not really sure” category. The flavor is pleasant, but I can’t get past the little black seeds.  

While we were poking and sniffing in the produce department I was thinking about the spiritual fruit Paul listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

The Message translates the passage with more definition: 

^“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

I often see gentleness translated as meekness. That’s not what Paul meant. Meekness implies a weak person who acts timidly because he cannot help himself. Gentleness is strength under control. When we are securely rooted in Christ we don’t need “to force our way in life.”

There are only two people in scripture that are called meek… gentle. The first was Moses. The second was Jesus. Neither were wimps. Their meekness was not weakness; it was a heart surrendered to God.

True gentleness occurs when we accept God’s dealings with us as good and we choose not to resist Him.   

None of our spiritual fruits are automatic. We need the Holy Spirit to develop them in our character. Gentleness is the result of our submission to God’s will and the relinquishment of our desire to be powerful. Nothing quashes gentleness as effectively as arrogance.

I preview a lot of recipes on-line before making something new. (I’ve yet to find one that lists rambutan as an ingredient.) Scripture is a cookbook for living. There are three biblical instructions for gentleness.

1. Galatians 6:1-4 “… if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way.” We are instructed to restore the broken, always remembering that we were once outside God’s justifying grace.

2.  We are required to extend forgiveness. (Colossians 3:12-13) “As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Our spirits become gentler every time we give up our right to be angry, our right to get even, and our right for retribution.

3. 1 Peter 3:15 says we are to use gentleness when we are attempting to reach others for Jesus. “…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” No one was ever battered into the Kingdom.

I took the dragon fruit to church so we could all try it. Total agreement. “Uninteresting taste and too many little black seeds.” Stick with kiwi.