Fruits of the Spirit 

The fruits of the spirit are qualities that reflect the character of God and are cultivated within us through our relationship with him. At a high level, these qualities include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. At a detailed level, they include: loving service, unselfish devotion, courageous loyalty, sincere fairness, enlightened honesty, undying hope, confiding trust, merciful ministry, unfailing goodness, forgiving tolerance, and enduring peace. God wants his children of faith to bear much spirit fruit.

As we grow closer to God, his spirit begins to work within us, transforming our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. The process of acquiring the fruits of the spirit is not instantaneous; it requires time, effort, and a willingness to cooperate with God's leading. We must be patient with ourselves and allow God to work within us, knowing that he is gradually shaping us into what we can become.

Fruits of the spirit are interconnected and as we develop one fruit, it often leads to the growth of others. For example, as we cultivate love, we naturally become more patient, kind, and gentle. All such desirable social manifestations of these behaviors should appear as unconscious and inevitable outgrowths, or natural fruits, of the inner personal experience of the individual. Seeking the will of God should be our primary goal and the secondary benefits of yielding more fruits of the spirit in our lives will be one of the natural byproducts.

Any religious belief that is effective in spiritualizing the believer is certain to have powerful repercussions in the personal and social life of such a religionist. True religious experience unfailingly yields the "fruits of the spirit" in the daily life of the spirit-led person. This inner change results in a better life, no matter what circumstances the faith-believer faces. Confidence in God's watchcare and trust in his affection make all difficulties easier to bear. The person of faith who lives under the grace of the "fruits of the spirit" realizes a calm composure in the face of adversity and embraces tolerance and patience when feeling challenged.

For those who place their trust in God, life takes on new meaning: contentment blesses the person of faith, and hope springs eternal. Peace is a state of inner calm and tranquility. It helps us to navigate through life's problems with grace and equanimity. When we have peace within ourselves, we can also contribute to creating peace in our relationships and in the world around us. When we cultivate the fruits of the spirit in our lives, we experience a deeper sense of fulfillment, happiness, and harmony. Kindness not only benefits those with whom we interact, but it also brings us a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

Love is the foundation of all the fruits of the spirit. It flows from God and through us. Pure love flows through the love-saturated person. It helps us to connect with others, to show compassion, and to treat everyone with kindness and respect. Love brings people together and creates strong and meaningful relationships. Love is the desire to do good to others. It involves treating others with empathy, generosity, and respect. The true gauge of the love and maturity of a spirit-born person is evidenced by how much they love their fellows.

Living truth is the desire to do what is right and to act in a morally upright way. It involves integrity, honesty, and a commitment to ethical behavior. When we strive to manifest goodness, we contribute to a more just and harmonious world. Faithfulness is the quality of being loyal and trustworthy. It involves keeping our promises, being reliable, and standing by others. Faithfulness helps build strong and meaningful relationships based on trust and mutual support.

Gentleness is the ability to be tender and considerate in our interactions with others. It involves speaking and acting with kindness and compassion. Gentleness helps to create a safe and nurturing environment for ourselves and those around us. [Self-control/Event/Jesus' Discourse on Self-Mastery[ is the ability to regulate our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It helps us to make wise choices and to resist impulsive behaviors. Self-control allows us to live in alignment with our values and to achieve our goals.

By cultivating these various fruits of the spirit in our lives, we can experience greater happiness, fulfillment, and harmony.

A spirit-born person bears the fruits of the spirit. Jesus said, "By their fruits you will know them." One of his great sermons included the parable of the vine and the branches because he intended his followers to act in such a manner of spiritual fragrance that anyone would know they were followers of Jesus because of their behavior. He assured those who listened to his teachings that the Spirit of Truth would witness to their hearts the genuine truth in his message. He taught that if we dedicate ourselves to do the divine will as he did, we will show forth the fruits just as he did in his life. Jesus said he is the vine and we are the branches. If we stay connected to him we can bear much fruit. Maintaining a close relationship with him and with our heavenly Father allows the wonderful qualities called the fruits of the spirit to show forth in our lives. By these fruits, all people will know us as faith-children of God.

Jesus said a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, we cannot develop these qualities by ourselves. We must stay connected to the vine and allow his Spirit of Truth to work in and through us. When we do this, we will start to see the fruits of the spirit growing in our lives and this growth will help us to build strong and meaningful relationships, navigate through life's challenges with grace, and contribute to a more loving and peaceful world.