What's Your Favorite Fruit?

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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

– Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB)

My granddaughter has always loved fruit. When she was very little, I shared with her that my favorite fruit was peaches. “What’s your favorite fruit? I asked her.

“Chicken,” she responded confidently. She obviously didn’t really know what fruit meant.

Fruit to the Christian means good things that we try to do and share with others to show that the Holy Spirit lives in us. We can claim to know the Lord, but if we don’t produce fruit, or works, can such faith save us? (James 2:14 CSB).

I made a list of the fruits of the Spirit and put them in a visible place in my truck. I carry a list in my wallet. I want to remind myself that these fruits are expected of me to show God’s love to others. It’s not always easy, but it’s sad to claim to have faith and do nothing when we see others in need.

Read James 2:14-26 for a reminder about how important fruit and works are for the Christian. We can’t earn our way into Heaven by our works, but if we want to share our faith, producing fruit is necessary. God is the vine, we are the branches. Let’s fill our branch with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You don’t even have to pick your favorite—let’s commit to reflecting and valuing them all.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Which of the Fruits of the Spirit come easy for you?

2. Which of them are harder for you?

3. Which of them can you show others today?

4. Can you use one or more of the Fruits of the Spirit to help you witness to someone?