The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Kindness-
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient 2 Timothy 2:24
Do you treat others the way you would like to be treated?
Do you show genuine concern for others?
Am I thoughtful, considerate, or alert to the needs of others?
Goodness –
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Luke 6:27
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
Do you show kindness by doing good works for other believers?
Do you seek to overcome evil by actively doing good to those who wrong or hate you?
Faithfulness –
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes, will find so doing. Matthew 24:45-46
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:10-13
Are you committed to making choices that please God, especially when others are not watching?
Do you stick with a job or task until it is completed?
Are you dependable? Trustworthy? Loyal?
Gentleness (Meekness) –
Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, Ephesians 4:1-2
Are you easy to approach, even with difficult matters? Or do others have legitimate reasons to dread conversations with you?
Do you endure misunderstanding and injustice without retaliating or being defensive?
Do you have a teachable spirit?
Self Control –
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they are reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well-pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Titus 2:1-10
Are you disciplined in matters of food and drink?
How about the use of your tongue?
Are you using your time wisely?
How about your reaction and responses to people and circumstances?
Are your natural passions and appetites under the control of the Holy Spirit?
Take the time to really think and ponder on these questions. Listen to the Holy Spirit on the areas that you need to apply in your life and be aware of it.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit. Speak to us in the areas that we need to work on in our own lives.
In Jesus name
Amen
