Not Fruit
Promise:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control. The list of things that aren’t fruit is longer.
Passage:
When I was a kid we watched Sesame Street and there was a little bit they did whose song lyrics said “one of these things is not like the others.” They’d then show images of things that were similar with one that was different. Three musical instruments and one vegetable. Three articles of warm winter clothing and a beach ball. It helped us identify by comparison and contrast, what fit the pattern and which things didn’t. Sometimes contrast can be a powerful learning tool.
John Mark Comer said on his teaching podcast that “intensity is not a fruit of the Spirit.” Indeed it not found on the list from Galatians 5:22-23. It sparked an idea that there should be a list of things that aren’t fruit of the Spirit. Some of these things are not like the others. The list would be too long to contain in this book, but is useful to consider as we seek to show up as Jesus showed up in the world.
When you feel any of the following, it is not from God and not an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in you.
We’ll start with the things that are the opposite of the fruits listed in the Bible. These include hate, discontent, unwholeness, hurriedness, intensity, unfaithfulness, evil, and lack of impulse control. These naturally extend to the 124 sings listed in the new testament which include creating division, being too quick to speak or be understood without listening, adultery, gossiping, complaining, pride, greed, envy, lust, brawling, gluttony, sloth, drunkenness (or equivalents), bitterness, deceit and dishonesty, ignoring the needs of others, rioting, and stealing. The list goes on. Although I have never participated in many of the things on this list (thank God!), there are many that are familiar. I imagine it is the same for you.
Comparing the two lists is instructive. The fruit gives life to the person bearing those fruit and to everyone around them. They are light, attractive, and great for building comradery and unity. The “not fruit” can literally take away the lives of others or destroy them with words of negativity. These anti-fruits create distrust and discord and deplete relationships of their happiness.
Practice:
Select one fruit of the Spirit and one of its opposites from the list of non-fruits. Pray for insight and write out a definition and example of each in your life. Continue this with two other fruit and non-fruits until you see a trend or pattern. Pray in gratitude for the gifts of fruit that He has grown in your life. Reflect on all that have been helped and encouraged by that fruit. Think of what it felt to bear that fruit. Pray in confession where you have fallen short and born fruit that isn’t from God. Reflect on those who have been hurt or discourage by that non-fruit. Think of what it felt to carry and act on those negative thoughts and emotions. Pray that God replaces any bad fruit with the good fruit of his Spirit.
Pause:
Reflecting on the exercise above, is there anyone that you need to apologize to, clear the air with, or restore a relationship with? Is God prompting you to do anything different today?
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https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/john-mark-comer-teachings/id1592847144?i=1000743038259