Galatians 5:19 - 21 and 5:22, 23
19 - 21 lists a horrific collection of sins called the deeds of the flesh. These are attitudes and behaviors that flow out of focus on sensuality and conflict and they only produce death and destruction. People who practice such things have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Think of yourself as an orange tree that produces flowers that are beautiful to see and smell, and when pollinated produce amazing fruit. Buzzy bees have to come around and distribute pollen which completes the fruit-bearing cycle.
If you are an orange tree you are waiting for the Holy Spirit to come around and pollinate you so that you produce His fruit starting with love. What effort must an orange tree put forth to bear fruit? No effort! It just has to be available – the bee does the work. When you are surrendered to the Spirit, He will produce love plus the other eight spiritual fruits in your life. What can you do today to have love in your life?
A couple of things about this love.
1. It’s God's love.
2. You can’t make it up.
3. The Holy Spirit produces love in you.
4. Don’t stress and struggle trying to make yourself loving.
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