Fragrant Fruit

Every moment of the day, each decision you make, every choice and every thought is a chance to produce fragrant fruit.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he passionately gives them counsel on how to live freely and solely motivated by God’s Spirit. We often need these types of firm reminders because we are constantly in a struggle, a tug-of-war with The Holy Spirit and our sinful nature.

Paul says, look just make it a habit to walk and live in the Holy Spirit. Let it control and guide you in everything you say and do. If you do that, then you are guaranteed to produce fragrant fruit.

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear fruit by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. John 15: 5

He then warns us of the self-interest root in all of us that is always antagonizing the Holy Spirit, just as the Holy Spirit is always in conflict with our selfish, sinful, rancid fruit nature.

In fruit farming, careful attention is given to pollination, fertilization, pruning and pest control.

Pollination/Fertilization: the transference of pollen by flowers in order to reproduce. Without pollination, flowers may bloom abundantly, but will not bear fruit.

Pruning: to cut off or cut back to insure the production of high quality fruit.

Pest Control: the regulation or management of pests because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person’s health.

You can just about imagine where I’m going with this.

There are times we will come across people who are blooming abundantly, but bearing rancid fruit. They don’t have the character/nature of Christ. They need to be fertilized, pruned and controlled by The Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 7 we are given what to look for in false prophets and preachers, but I’d like to think the same would apply to all of us, Wherefore by their fruit ye shall know them. I once heard someone say, no we are not to judge, but we are to be fruit inspectors.

Galatians 5 reveals the inspected results of rancid fruit, which are: moral and spiritual impurity, adultery, fornication, vulgarity, lust, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, envious rivalry, vengeful anger, rebellion, murder, drunkenness and desiring vain glory. Those who indulge in such will not inherit Christ’s will, purpose and intent for their life. They will not manifest his nature.

For the nature of God is love and the foundation of His Word is, Love others as you love yourself. I am convinced that if we produce love, the other fragrant fruits will follow. They all intertwine, one producing the other: joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Make sure our fruit is fragrant and not rancid.

Scripture Of The Day: "Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way to salvation as a life-giving perfume." - 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16