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

When we speak of the fruit of the Spirit, we must make it clear that there is a difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Every believer has been given a gift by the Holy Spirit, and not everyone has the same gift. There are three main passages in the New Testament that speak about the gifts of the Spirit: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.

However, the fruit of the Spirit refers to the features of Christ that are to be seen in every believer. We are to display this ninefold aspect of the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives. This has nothing to do with a spiritual gift, but everything to do with spiritual character, which affects our spiritual conduct.

When we look at the list given in Galatians 5:22–23, it is very similar to the description given to Moses concerning the character of God Himself:

“And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation’” (Exodus 34:6–7).

As we compare these lists, we learn that Christian character bears a marked resemblance to the character of God. There is a very clear connection between the root and the fruit:

• Love — God is love (1 John 4:8)
• Joy — “He will rejoice over you” (Zeph. 3:17)
• Peace — He is the God of peace (Heb. 13:20)
• Patience — He is the God of patience (Rom. 15:5)
• Kindness — shown toward us (Eph. 2:7)
• Goodness — follows us all our days (Ps. 23:6; 27:13)
• Faithfulness — “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:23)
• Gentleness — He is gentle and humble (Matt. 11:29)
• Self-control — He has shown His strength (Luke 1:51)

In all these things, our God is holy, and who can compare with Him? Yet His desire is that we display the characteristics and features of the One who loved us and gave His beloved Son for us at Calvary.

Anchor For Today:
He desires that you and I be conformed to the image of His dear Son, who is bringing many sons to glory. May that transformation continue in each one of our lives for His glory.