Page 9 - Confirmed in the Joy

The Fruits
of the Holy Spirit
AN OVERVIEW
Have you ever picked an apple or orange from a tree? If not, imagine doing so. What does the fruit look like?
Is it plump and juicy? Is the fruit perfect or does it have imperfections or flaws? Do you think the tree is “hurt” by you picking this fruit?
St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians in the first century provides a spiritual description of what fruits are available to you as a Christian living a life as a disciple or follower of Jesus. Here are Paul’s words:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” GALATIANS 5:22–23
Let’s go back to our apples and oranges. How do we know a bad apple or orange tree from a good one? By its fruit! Does the fruit look good? Does it taste good? Does it have to be perfect to be good? Of course not! And is the tree damaged by you picking the fruit from its branches? That is what makes a tree what it is—it produces fruit and gives it away.
So let us apply the tree analogy to you. How do you know that you are following Jesus and being the disciple that he wants you to be as a person in relationship to him? Again, by
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