“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

WOW, those are some pretty powerful words. Jesus speaks about how a tree can only bear good fruit or bad fruit. It can’t bear both. When he talked about this, he wasn’t talking about a real tree he was speaking about people. When someone has evil in their heart, they don’t have the ability to allow God into their hearts. It happens to all of us at times. There have been times in my life when I have been overcome with jealousy or envy or just wanted to make more money. I’m not proud of those times and I definitely not bragging about them either.

Can you think of any of those times in your life? Times where you didn’t bear good fruit.

Even through those hard times did God give up on you when you lost your way? NO! He never gives up on us. He asks that we do not give up on others or ourselves either. That’s part of being a person that bears good fruit, not giving up. We can’t give up because someone hurts us. We continue to forgive them and in the end it makes us better fruit.

Last week we talked about how God has a plan for all of us, and how he knew us before were ever born. I believe that God also knows when we will stumble. He uses that as a way to help us know that he is in control of everything. God wants all of his children to bear good fruit. Think back to when you were a child (I still am according to my wife, lol). Do you remember having to learn a lesson the hard way?

Oh man, do I ever. I had to learn lots of lessons the hard way. There were definitely times when I did not bear good fruit for God. Does that mean that I can’t bear good fruit now? No, it doesn’t. Because God knew before I was born that I would mistakes, just like you, just like your neighbor, just like the rest of the world. He knew that we would struggle. That is why God sent his son for us, to atone for our sins.

Prayer

God we would like to thank you today for never giving up on us. Like a farmer never gives up on his crops, or parents never give up on their children. We thank you for taking the time to help us bear good fruits. We know that life can be tough, you never said that it would be easy. We know that you are here for us and that you help us when we need it.

God Thank you for the opportunities that you give us to share our good fruits. We pray that you will help us to realize when we are starting to get rotten before it is too late.

God we pray that you help us to share love, give joy to others, seek peace in conflicting times, show kindness when we are struggling, be good to others, always be faithful to you, have genital hands and gentle words, and above all else have self-control in every situation. We thank you for never giving up on us. .

Amen