LEARNING DAILY

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

“When a person walks through a grove of trees filled with beautiful, rich oranges that person knows that the fruit on the trees are oranges. The fruit on the trees reflect what is going on inside of the tree. Galatians 5 describes the fruit produced by the Spirit in the Believer; it is evidence that God is working within the Believer. It cannot be faked (even though many try) as it is the natural result of being connected to God and being changed by the Holy Spirit.” That is how Pastor Jonathon Moore of NorthRock Church began a new series on the “fruit of the Spirit”.

Pastor Moore shared three reasons for this series. One, God wants us to bear fruit of our relationship with Him so people can be drawn to Him. Believers make a difference for God by being different. Two, fruit informs us (the Believer) – gives us evidence – we are doing relationship with Jesus in the right way. He no doubt meant that fruit is evidence the Believer is walking the narrow way with Jesus. “What I am producing is evidence of what is going on inside of me” (PM). Matthew 7:16 states, “You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.” (New Living Translation). And third, God wants us to have all His fruit. Jesus said He came to give life in abundance (John 10:10). Audrey wrote in her notes, “God wants our lives to be improved by the fruit”.

Pastor Moore said, “You do not learn the fruit – the fruit grows as a natural result of a healthy and whole relationship with God” (Audrey’s notes). Every Believer needs to pursue a relationship with Him by wanting to grow closer to Him; yes, that happens as he/she opens the Word of God daily to read and study it. Read John 15:4-5 which says the only way to bear fruit is to remain in the Lord Jesus Christ. Audrey wrote in her notes, “We shouldn’t aim to just know things/scripture, what matters is what we do! Do all things in love (1 Corinthians13:13)”.

The first fruit mentioned is “love”. Pastor Moore said, “Love is the verb of the Bible”.  “God is love” (1 John 4:8). “God so loved the world ….” (John 3:16). “Let love be your greatest aim” (1Corinthians 13:14). In John 13:34-35 “Believers are told how to treat others – your family and others, those who are driving around you on the highway” (JM). Ephesians 3:17 tells Believers, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in faith, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes all knowledge,”.

Pastor Moore’s first point was to “understand the depth of God’s love toward you. You can do nothing to make Him love you more or love you less. He just loves you! He took your place on a cross, and He continues to love you even though you keep sinning. He does not stop loving you.” Read Micah 7:18-19. Nothing a Believer does can make God stop loving you. (When you sin, admit it to Him, asking for His forgiveness so fellowship with Him continues; remember 1 John 1:9).

Secondly, receive God’s love for you. “In 1 Corinthians 13:1-8, Paul is personifying love. Love is received by a connection with an individual – Jesus Christ (John 4:19)” (Audrey’s notes). Love never fails, and the only person who never failed is Jesus Christ. “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). Jesus knows everything you have done, said, and thought – He still loves you more than you can imagine. Instead of telling yourself all sorts of negative stuff and reminding yourself of all your mistakes, “Declare God’s love over yourself” (Audrey’s notes). Walk in the love of God each moment of each day!