Fruits of the Spirit

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17 BCP 233)

If you happen to watch our weekly Porch Pondering videos, you'll know that I have started a series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The list of the fruits of the Spirit come from Paul's letter to the Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22-23. Paul was exhorting the Galatians to stay away from bad behaviors and instead let the fruits of the Spirit grow in them, and he elaborates by specifically listing nine fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

The Collect for this coming Sunday asks God to "bring forth in us the fruit of good works." When we follow the way of Jesus and follow his teachings and actions, we start to grow God's fruit within us. However, if you've ever watched fruit grow, as I have done, sitting and waiting for the strawberry plants to flower, bud, grow, get bigger, turn red and ripen, you'll know growing fruit is a long process. It takes patience and self-control to allow fruit to grow! 

Yet, if you have waited through the process, you know the fruit is worth the wait. The same inside of us. The growth of the fruits of the Spirit can take a while, we have to wait and watch, we have to learn each of them in turn, but in the end, the fruit is worth the wait and growth. God gives us marvelous gifts through the fruits of the Spirit. I invite you to sit and pray, to wait and watch today, to let God grow the fruits of the Spirit in you. (I also invite you to watch the videos on our Facebook or YouTube channels if you haven't already!)