Lent Day 25: Naturally fruitful

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 
against such things there is no law. 
Galatians 5:22-23 NEV

I used to read the list of spiritual fruit as a list of human impossibility. There was no way I could be consistently gentle, self-controlled or patient, never mind loving, joyful, or peaceful!

 Then it occurred to me that these are not actions but the many flavors of one fruit. A tree does not groan and sigh, pressing out apples or oranges - or in Indonesia, mangos and coconuts. If it is a fruit tree, it eventually produces fruit.

 And if it is a healthy tree, it produces healthy fruit.

 Sometimes worms climb the tree and eat the leaves, sapping its strength . Sometimes a disease will mottle the fruit. Sometimes there is no rain or the soil is poor and the fruit is stunted. But a fruit tree automatically produces fruit as an outcome of its identity.

 The gardener will prune, spray, or compost for maximum harvest and the tree responds naturally. It absorbs the work of the gardener by bursting into bloom and preparing a harvest.

 What does the fruit of your life look like?

 I want to settle into the field where God has planted me. I want to respond to his work around and in me. 

 Then the fruit that he has designed me to bear will grow and feed those around me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Nothing is sweeter in a person and nothing nourishes others better that that.

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