Harvesting the Fruit of His Spirit

by Randall Caselman

When Jesus genuinely, truly comes into our lives, things change. Opening our hearts to His presence means we’ll never be the same.

Go with me to a well outside the city of Sychar. Jesus, tired from the journey, sat down by the well. A Samaritan woman came. She and Jesus struck up a conversation about religion, and her life was never the same. This woman evidently gave up her sinful ways and began to tell her friends and neighbors about her encounter with Jesus. This impressed them, and many came to believe in Him. Her change, her testimony, led to their salvation.

Paul gives us insight into what happens when Jesus comes to make His home in our hearts when he wrote: “The fruit of the Spirit [The result of opening our hearts to Jesus] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22,25). No wonder Paul is found saying, “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Well, how? How do we know we have Christ in our hearts? Only if we are harvesting the fruit of the Spirit of Him who lives in us!

Love

Love is an indication that we have the spirit of Jesus in us, that He is living in our hearts. We must not argue this point because this is exactly what John says: “We also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us… Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4:11-12, 21)

When Jesus got ready to paint a picture of love, He painted a word picture of a shepherd braving the wilds for a lost sheep; a father embracing, in total acceptance, a prodigal son who came home. Jesus gives us an everyday application of love when He said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Joy

Joy comes when we are the person we know we ought to be. Joy is the result of obedience. Joy is feeling good because we are guiltless, forgiven, heaven-bound people. Joy is knowing that God is our Father, that He is in control, working things out to our benefit, to our good and betterment. Joy springs from the spirit of Jesus living within us.

Peace

Jesus is spoken of as being the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He brings us peace with God because “in Him sins are forgiven” (Acts 10:43), peace with others because we treat them as brothers. I think Paul tells us how best to gain such peace: “place the interest of others before that of your own and do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit" (Philippians 2:3-4). "But as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Jesus brings us peace within because we know we are right with God, and like David, He will shepherd us through every situation: “I will be with you always” (Matthew 28:20). “I will never leave you, never forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Know Jesus, know peace!

Patience

The Greek word translated as "patience" has no exact English equivalent and is usually rendered as "long-suffering" in the King James. It literally means to be long-tempered. It speaks of our ability to press on in the face of difficult people and circumstances. Like Jesus, we must keep on keeping on in the face of untimely interruptions, criticism, and even when harsh words are spoken. Peter said this about the spirit of Jesus: “When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, he entrusted Himself to God who judges justly” (I Peter 2:23).

Goodness

Those who have Jesus in their heart are just plain good. Goodness is the result of good thinking. Paul indicates we are to think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. We must let go of ugly thinking!

Faithfulness

Faith is a trust in God, trusting Him for continual forgiveness and salvation. Faithfulness is obedience, fidelity, loyalty to His commands. Faithfulness is being right and doing right. It is by being and doing right that we are justified.

Gentleness

Gentleness is meekness in our King James. The world says, "Be tough, be a John Wayne, be like Rambo." The Bible tells us to be gentle, as Jesus was. Gentleness is being kind and loving to others even when they mistreat and abuse us. Gentleness in turning the other cheek.

Self-Control

I think the idea here is moderation, self-restraint. Like Jesus, we are to subdue and control our emotions and become masters of our passions and desires. Scripture tells us: “Those who belong to Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

May we, like Paul, be able to say: “It is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Amen?