What is the meaning of the fruit of the Spirit? Let’s take a look at this by first looking at the words from Peter:
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
We have been commanded to tell others about our Savior, as this is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). However, we should ensure that long before we give a verbal testimony, we should ensure that people can see Him in us in our daily walk. Reflect on your life over the past few days: Would your co-workers see Christ living in you, or do you frequently lose your temper, goof off, or come and go as you please? Do you exemplify Christ in your home or while out in public? Do you offer the same amount of grace to others that Christ gives you every single day?
When people see the Spirit of Jesus Christ in you—in your patience when wronged, your peace in adversity, your forgiveness amidst cruelty—they will ask about your hope. This hope stems from the fruit of the Spirit.
A genuine conversion has a love for Jesus that is, in itself, a witness of His life. Unfortunately, we often seek to lead people into our religion instead of to Christ. We were not called to lead people to a particular denomination, but to lead people into a relationship with the Son of God. Witnessing is not about growing numbers in your church, but about introducing people into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. If they end up attending your church, great, if they go elsewhere, that’s fine too. A conversion that is genuine bears the spiritual fruit of love and humility, and has no interest in keeping track of numbers.
In the Garden of Eden God placed trees with seed in the fruit. The power to reproduce life, therefore, is in the fruit. And for the fruit to be edible, it must be mature and sweet. The fruit we must display comes from the Tree of Life, which brings healing of nations (Revelation 22:2). It is not from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil—legalistic laws and judging what is wrong in people.
And if you sin or stumble in front of another person, which will happen to us all, repent both to God and to those you have wronged. A sincere repentance is a sure sign that God is real and in control of your life.
The seeds of your fruitfulness will reproduce in those closest to you. Walk always in the light of Christ, and thank Him daily for calling you out of the darkness. Review the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 and reflect on whether you are outwardly expressing these qualities or not.
People who know you to be a Christian will always be observing you to look for any hypocritical behavior. Let them find none.
