Lauren Appolis
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23, NIV
What God outlines as the fruit of the Spirit are essentially the characteristics of a person who walks with the Spirit of God.
Beautiful words, beautiful character traits. But difficult to maintain every day, in every season.
Lord, how do I love those who hurt me? How am I to be joyful when everything is going wrong? Is it even possible to have peace when I have so many questions? The list goes on …
In my earlier walk with Christ, I resolved to live out everything this scripture outlined. I was determined to love, but I wasn’t getting it right. I pretended to have peace while lying awake at night mulling over worries. I forced a faithful approach to everything and faced burnout as I operated at 110% in my own strength.
In my own strength.
That was the problem. These traits – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – are fruits: something that grows from the tree, not the other way around. A sweet, juicy apple doesn’t just appear – it is produced by the tree.
The source of these fruits is the Holy Spirit. Just like an apple cannot exist apart from the tree, we cannot produce these character traits apart from the Spirit.
This frees us from the weight of trying to love someone difficult on our own. We can love, be kind, have peace, joy, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – not by our own strength, but because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Just as an apple tree produces fruit naturally, the Spirit produces these traits in us.
Oh, amazing love, that God would give us his Spirit to produce these fruits and not expect it in our own strength!
God’s love and the Spirit, when we abide in him, produce beautiful fruit through his power. You are kind because you have God. You can love unconditionally because you know God. You can be faithful because he is. You can soften this harsh world with your kindness and gentleness because he equips you.
You are magnificently created to bear good, glorious fruit that blesses others and glorifies God. You are chosen. You are deeply loved, child of God.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for giving us your Spirit. Abide in me, so that I can produce good fruit that reflects your love to others. Amen.
Lauren Appolis
Die vrug van die Gees, daarteenoor, is liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedhartigheid, getrouheid, nederigheid en selfbeheersing. Teen sulke dinge het die wet niks nie. Galasiërs 5:22-23, 1983-vertaling
Wat God as die vrug van die Gees uiteensit, is in wese die eienskappe van 'n persoon wat in die Gees van God wandel.
Pragtige woorde, pragtige eienskappe. Moeilik om elke dag, te alle tye, te handhaaf.
Here, hoe kan ek diegene wat my seermaak liefhê? Hoe kan ek bly wees wanneer alles verkeerd loop? Is dit selfs moontlik om vrede te hê wanneer ek so baie vrae het? Die lys gaan aan ...
In my vroeër lewe met Christus het ek besluit om alles wat ons teksgedeelte uiteensit, uit te leef. Ek was vasbeslote om lief te hê, maar kon nie daarin slaag nie. Ek het voorgegee dat ek vrede het, terwyl ek snags wakker lê en peins oor al my bekommernisse. Ek het myself gewing om alles getrou te benader en was op pad om uit te brand omdat ek 110% op my eie krag staat gemaak het.
In my eie krag.
Dit was die probleem. Hierdie eienskappe – liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedhartigheid, getrouheid, nederigheid en selfbeheersing – is vrugte: iets wat aan 'n boom groei, nie andersom nie. 'n Soet, sappige appel verskyn nie sommer nie – dit word deur die boom voortgebring.
Die bron van hierdie vrugte is die Heilige Gees. Net soos die appel nie sonder die boom kan bestaan nie, kan ons ook nie hierdie eienskappe sonder die Gees voortbring nie.
Dit bevry ons van die las om te probeer om 'n moeilike persoon op ons eie lief te hê. Ons kan liefhê, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedhartigheid, getrouheid, nederigheid en selfbeheersing hê – nie in ons eie krag nie, maar omdat die Heilige Gees in ons woon. Net soos 'n appelboom natuurlik vrugte dra, produseer die Gees hierdie eienskappe in ons.
Hoe wonderlik dat God aan ons sy Gees gee om hierdie vrugte voort te bring en nie verwag dat ons dit in ons eie krag moet doen nie.
God se liefde en sy Gees dra deur sy krag pragtige vrugte wanneer ons in Hom bly. Jy is goedhartig omdat jy God ken. Jy kan onvoorwaardelik liefhê omdat jy God ken. Jy kan getrou wees omdat God getrou is. Jy kan hierdie harde wêreld deur jou vriendelikheid en goedhartigheid 'n bietjie versag, want Hy rus jou toe.
Jy is op 'n wonderlike manier geskape om vrug te dra wat ander seën en God verheerlik. Jy is uitverkies. Jy word innig liefgehê, kind van God.
Gebed: Dankie Here, dat U u Gees aan ons gegee het. Bly in my sodat ek goeie vrugte kan dra wat u liefde aan ander weerspieël. Amen