9 November | Teens
«But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,…gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law….And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires…. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. » Galatians 5: 22-25
Have you noticed that in Galatians 5:22 to 25, when the Bible talks about the fruit of the Spirit, this verse is in the singular and not the plural? In other words, it's one fruit. But how can we understand these verses better? To put it simply, it's as if the fruit of the Spirit were like a tangerine, with several sections, but still a single fruit. And guess what the main section of this fruit is? Love!
The characteristics of this fruit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. All these “sections” together form the fruit of the Spirit. But love is what gives flavor to all the others. Without love, the other sections lose their true value or, as we're talking about fruit, their true flavor.
But learning to be more loving isn't always that easy, especially with people who don't accept or respect us. But that's exactly what the fruit of the Spirit teaches us to do. The love of the Holy Spirit in us helps us to love even those who are difficult to love. This love that comes from the Spirit is not just a feeling; it is an action. It is demonstrated in the way we treat others, how we speak to them and how we act, even when no one is looking. It's a love that's even super sweet! Like a tangerine!
Take Action
Take a tangerine and share its sections with the people around you. It could be with friends, family, or even someone you don't know very well. As you share each sections, think about how each part of the fruit of the Spirit can be shared in your daily life too!