Fruit Happens

The holiday season is upon us. Here in my corner of the world, we’ve just wrapped up Thanksgiving and we’re headed into Christmas. Maybe you are celebrating Chanukah or Kwanzaa or something else entirely, but here I’m knee deep in Christmas plays and parties, present buying, decorating, and holiday cards. Sandwiched in between all the To Do List items is a desire to slow down, reflect, and look forward to the advent of Christ.

As I do so, I can’t help but reflect on my attitude toward all the festivities and the stress that comes along with them. During this season and all year long, I want my life to reflect the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace…. Too often, though, my life reflects the fruit of the flesh—impatience, selfish ambition, frustration….

I hope to focus one by one on each aspect of the Spirit’s fruit in the upcoming weeks. First, though, I think it is important to recognize that if I plan to strive to be more “fruitful” in my own power, then I am going to fail.

I’ve noticed something about myself. Perhaps you can relate. When I attempt spiritual matters in my own strength, it is not often sustainable. To illustrate, have you ever made cinnamon rolls or cookies from one of those cans? You know the kind where you slowly peel off the paper wrapper and gently push on the exposed cardboard seam underneath? The kind where you hear a “pop” and feel a “puff” as it depressurizes and the dough bursts from its container? Hold that picture in your mind.

Let’s say I’ve decided to work on patience and kindness. Scenario 1: The kids are bickering and yelling at each other. In my own strength; I put on a smile, tell myself to be patient, and calmly ask them to stop, redirect where appropriate, and discipline when necessary. Scenario 2: The line is extremely long to check out at Target or the grocery store and people are irritable, maybe someone cuts in line. In my own strength; I remind myself to be patient and to show kindness, and keep my voice level without muttering under my breath or speaking sarcastically to those around me. Scenario 3: My boss, co-workers, or customers are snippy, unreasonable, or short-tempered. In my own strength; I tell myself to be patient and to show kindness, and hold my tongue, walk away from the situation, or diffuse the difficult interaction.

In any of those scenarios, I first have to remind myself to be patient and kind. It does not flow naturally. Moreover, I give myself a 60% chance of succeeding, but even that success only lasts for so long. At some point, I will explode like that cinnamon roll can. I will either turn that scolding inwards or I will verbally erupt on whomever happens to be in my vicinity when my exposed cardboard seam gets pushed. Perhaps the brunt will fall on my kids, my spouse, or a stranger who is left wondering, “What’s wrong with her?!”

That is the fruit of my efforts. There are days when I am much better at it than other days. However, it is usually dependent upon the circumstances, other stress factors in my life, or how well I slept the night before. The Fruit of the Spirit, though? That takes it to the next level. That fruit, as the name implies, comes from the very Spirit of God. It sounds so simple and obvious. Why, then, am I constantly trying to produce that level of love, patience, kindness, etc. on my own terms and with my own strength?

Here’s the thing about plants, trees, and fruit in general. If I want to eat an apple, I must first plant an apple seed in fertile, well-draining soil. The seed needs exposure to water, sunlight, and fertilization. In order to produce abundant fruit, I need to prune the tree and attempt to keep pests and disease away. These are actions under my control. What I cannot do, though, is determine the exact size, shape, or quantity of apples that tree will produce. If I give some of those apples to another person, I cannot control how he or she will eat them or use them. Additionally, it takes time for a seed to reproduce itself via fruit. A standard apple tree takes approximately 4 to 8 years to bear fruit after being planted.

Bearing spiritual fruit is similar. It takes planting God’s Word in my heart and cultivating the soil of my soul. My efforts should focus on creating the ideal conditions for God to grow His fruit in me, not me struggling to create the fruit itself. I need to expose my soul to His living water and to the Son by pursuing my relationship with the Lord Himself—alone and in community. I can yield to the Lord’s pruning by yielding my heart to Him, asking Him to fill me with the Holy Spirit, and responding in obedience. The aim being completeness, not perfection, because otherwise pruning would be unnecessary. Moreover, I can attempt to limit disease by asking Him to guard my heart and mind and to help me avoid temptation. To do this, I must connect myself to the Vine by spending time with Him through prayer, contemplation, spiritual disciplines, and meditation on His Word.

Much like a tree takes time to produce fruit, spiritual fruit is developed over a lifetime of transformation. It begins when I ask the Lord to create a clean heart in me and transform me from the inside out. I am able to control and foster the condition of my soul much like cultivating good soil for a tree to thrive. Cultivating my soul allows the Spirit to thrive in my life, the evidence of which is His fruit. Despite my efforts, I cannot work this transformation backwards. He must be the One to do the work of transformation. It is the difference between me demonstrating love and God being love through me. This is when fruit happens.

So even though those Christmas cookies and cinnamon rolls are tasty, I am looking to pattern my life after something more lasting and sustainable especially during this time of Advent. I am seeking to cultivate my life into fertile soil where God’s Word will take root and His Spirit will bear fruit. In doing so, I hope to be pleasing to the Lord and to those around me. Through this process, I will grow closer to Father God this Christmas season and for a lifetime. That is looking forward to the advent of Christ. That is a wonderful gift indeed.  

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

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