A new start – Day 9
A new start … with the right fruit on your fruit tree
Se(di)ngolwa (t)sa Bibele
BAGALATA 5
Suppose you love peaches, but are allergic to plums. In your excitement about your new home, you stop at the nursery to buy a peach tree to plant in your backyard. How will you know for sure that you are actually buying a peach tree, if all the trees in the nursery are empty and without fruit? You will have to wait until the tree starts budding and shows fruit.
What will be your reaction be if you discover, after months of taking care of your tree with fertiliser and water, that the tree carries plums and not peaches?
We believers can be compared to the trees in the nursery. To the world, we all look the same. It is only when we start to bear fruit that we will truly be known as children of God or not. The real test to determine if we are bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is to look at our reactions during difficult times.
Do you manage your temper during stressful times? What is your reaction to situations that are out of your control in the workplace? What is your reaction when you are in a situation where you have grounds to repay evil with evil? Do you choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control of your life? Alternatively, do you choose to bear fruit of quarrelling, anger and envy?
In Galatians 5:19-23, we read about two different types of fruit:
TYPE 1: FRUIT OF THE FLESH
Galatians 5:19-21: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
TYPE 2: FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22-23: “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.”
Do you bear peaches or plums on your branches? I want to encourage you to let your actions demonstrate the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. God bless.
