Cultivating Spiritual Fruit

According to Dictionary.com, the term cultivates means basically to improve.  Cultivation in agriculture improves the growth of crops.  The term however, is not limited to the agricultural world but is used in a variety of contexts, each however meaning to improve.  If we are to bear spiritual fruit then we need to learn how we can cultivate our lives from the inside out so that we are more productive for our God.

It is here that the skeptic may say “Ah hah!  I knew you were going to talk about this subject.  It always comes down to the age old answer of a personal ‘Quiet Time.’”  True we cannot discuss spiritual growth apart from a discussion of Bible reading and prayer.  However, we can discuss our spiritual relationship to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in a way that does not make it a formula.  The Bible is God’s Word and hence his life giving instructions to us, we need to read it, study it and live it.  Prayer is the avenue of communication between us and God and we need to practice and develop that discipline. In this segment we will outline some ways to read and study the Bible.

Regularity – Over the years I have discovered that a regular habit of Bible reading and study is very important to develop.  Please don’t hear me saying you need to spend a certain amount of time each day reading your Bible.  The first key is to develop a habit.  Just as eating food for nourishment has become a routine in your life, so should spiritual intake.  The person who only opens the Bible once a week in church is the person who is spiritually malnourished and has no spiritual foundation from which to live their life.


Creativity -  We are fortunate to live in a time and in a country where resources abound.  Bible reading plans are available from www.biblegateway.com; The Gideons International, and even YouVersion, which is a free app for an iphone, as well as the Bible on CD to name a few.  How you get the Bible into your life daily is not as important as that you get the Bible into your life every day.  It must become a habit.

Where do I begin? – This is the question of many.  My simple answer is since we are to be about following Jesus, begin with the story of Jesus.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are a good starting point. 

But I never remember what I read? – Think fast.  What did you have for lunch last Monday?  Most of us don’t remember, but it provided nourishment at the time.  Let God’s Word touch you at the moment.  If so inclined develop a habit of writing down one lesson you learn from that days reading.

How long do I read? ­– Again habit is more important than length as you are getting started.  One rule of thumb I use is to ask God to point out to me in his Word what he wants me to see today.  Then as I read when a verse has an impact on my heart, I stop and let that verse and the teaching be part of my thoughts through the day.

This week make it a practice to get God’s Word into your life every single day.

Today’s Tip:  Make an appointment with God.  Set a specific time and place and put it on your calendar.  Keep it just as you would a business appointment, or a doctor’s appointment.

Ask a spiritual travelling companion to hold you accountable to read God’s Word.  Share with one another:

*What you read.

*What the Holy Spirit pointed out to you from the Bible.

*What adjustment(s) you may need to make to cultivate improved fruit in your life.

Spiritual Character Development (part 3)

Last week I was in class and just did not have the mental energy to give my best in posting a blog.  So there was a delay.  Here is the next posting as we continue on our journey of Following Jesus.

Wholistic is a fairly popular term these days. It means dealing with an entire system.  It is most often used in medical arenas in which the healing process involves not just the symptoms but the entire make up of who a person is.  When we examine the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23 we can see that God cares about the entirety of our relationships.  The first three aspects of the fruit of the Spirit reflect our relationship with God, the second three are connected to our relationships with each other and the final three, as we will see, deal with qualities of self.

The final trio of character traits is faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  When we understand these aspects of who we are to be we will see that they have an influence on every area of our life.  Who we are on the inside will determine how we live our lives on the outside.

Faithfulness – The person who is faithful is one upon whom you can depend.  When they give their word, they will see to it that they come through.  We use synonyms such as reliable and trustworthy to describe this person.  Faithfulness begins as one seeks to be the same kind of person that is seen in Jesus. One who was faithful, no matter the cost.  

Gentleness – This word is often translated meekness.  In our culture a meek person is sort of weak and mousy.  But that is not the way the term was used in the First Century.  It actually is used to describe a powerful war horse that can be guided by its rider.  It means “power under control.”  The gentle person knows how to manage authority given to them.  This person helps others feel empowered as well to accomplish tasks.  There is a unique humility to the one who is truly gentle.

Self-control – This is the quality that enables one to live a disciplined and principled life.  The self-controlled person learns to be content with what he or she has.  The self-controlled person is not typically swayed by peer pressure.  That quality of being steady comes from being focused on the fact that the most important relationship is found in Jesus Christ.  Complete dependency on Jesus leads to growing sense of self control.
Remember these are the Fruit of the Spirit. You and I cannot develop these qualities in our lives on our own by somehow trying harder.  We need to actively give our lives, our actions and our attitudes to God daily and ask him through the Holy Spirit to help us be people who reflect him to others.

Consider who you are on the inside and how it affects how you live on a daily basis.

Today’s Tip:  Evaluate your reliability, your humility and your ability to control yourself this week.

Look at your agenda for the next week.

            *What appointments do you have?  How will you work to be faithful in keeping them?

            *Who do you have authority over?  What will you do to empower them to be their best?

*What impulses do you struggle with?  Ask a friend to help you be more self-controlled?

Spiritual Character Development (part 2)

I once heard a speaker share that after studying the nine aspects of the Fruit of the Spirit he realized that he was batting just over .200.  In other words he felt he was growing in two of the areas and had a lot of work to do in the other seven.  As we have mentioned Galatians 5:22-23 are God’s check list for growth and character development.  We are dividing this list into three segments.  In our last column we looked at love, joy and peace and concluded that as we grow in these areas, we sharpen our focus on God.   What we will find as we continue this journey is a wholeness that has an impact on each area of life.

The second triplet of the Fruit of the Spirit seems to point toward our relationship with others.  Since we were created by God to be social beings, it is important that we live in our culture in a way that reflects God.  An accurate reflection of God will flow from the inside out.  As we grow in our love, joy and peace we will find ourselves growing in patience, kindness and goodness.   

Patience – The word translated patience is a term that literally means “wrath that is put far away.”  Martin Luther said that the one who is patient will “wait for the improvement of those who have done him wrong.”  We all have people in our lives that simply irritate us.  God calls us to be patient with them and to even show them mercy.  God is a patient God who describes himself as one who is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6).  In a culture that is set on vengeance and making someone pay, the quality of patience will stand out.

Kindness – The word from which we get kindness is a word that literally means to “mellow.”  It is used of wine that mellows with age.   The person who is kind reflects the character of God (Luke 6:35) who calls us to love our enemies and do good to them expecting nothing in return.

Goodness – If we are to be people of patience and kindness then we also need to live our lives in a way that reflects a consistency.  Goodness has to do with one’s moral character and actions.  The person who reflects goodness is one who disciplines themselves from doing that which is wrong.  This is the action word of helping others when they have a need, no matter how they have treated us.

Remember these are the Fruit of the Spirit. You and I cannot develop these qualities in our lives on our own by somehow trying harder.  We need to actively give our lives, our actions and our attitudes to God daily and ask him through the Holy Spirit to help us be people who reflect him to others.

As we follow Jesus each day we become more aware of how much we need him to help us change and be who he wants us to be.

Today’s Tip:  Ask God to show you where you can grow in patience, kindness and goodness. 

Think about the person in your life right now who is the most irritating.

            *What do they do that irritates you? 

                        Name it and in prayer ask God for his patience in dealing with this person.

            *Consider how you do something kind for this person, expecting nothing in return.

*Ask a spiritual traveling companion to hold you accountable to not retaliate or seek revenge on this person.

This week, read and meditate on Colossians 3:1-17.  Ask God to help you clothe yourself with characteristics that reveal to others that you are his chosen child.

Spiritual Character Development (part 1)

Spiritual Character Development (part 1)

Years ago there was sort of an unwritten check list of Christian behavior that was used to gauge one’s maturity.  The first items included daily “quiet time” and regular attendance at Sunday School, morning worship, evening service and Wednesday night prayer meeting.  After that each of the items were typically preceded by a negative.  Don’t dance; don’t go to movies; don’t drink; don’t smoke, etc.  However, external behaviors do not develop character, they simply reflect an ability to fit into a man-made system.  Character is rooted in one’s spirit, which is the core of who we are.

There is a check list that has been written down and preserved for those who follow Jesus.  It is found in Galatians 5:22-23 and contains nine items that work together to form ones spiritual character.  This list is known in Scripture as the “Fruit of the Spirit.”  If we are to be spiritually productive it will mean that we are monitoring the development of these nine traits in our own life.  A good exercise is to look at the brief definition of each aspect of the “Fruit of the Spirit” and measure one’s life habits against the simple truth of God’s Word.  Each one of us will find we have some growing to do.

Love – Love heads the list as it is truly the core characteristic of who we are to be as Christ Followers.  God is love (1 John 4:8).  Love is what motivated God to send Jesus to pay for our sins on the cross (John 3:16).  Love should motivate us in all we do for God (1 Corinthians 13).  Love is intentionally putting the well being of another person first. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Joy – Joy is often times used synonymously with happiness.  While there are similarities the way joy and happiness are expressed they are very different.  Happiness always depends on circumstances.  Biblical joy is dependent upon relationship with Jesus.  When one is in relationship with Jesus, there is a quiet confidence in the presence of God that gives an inner strength to weather any storm.  (Philippians 4:13).

Peace – When one is motivated by love and clinging to the quiet confidence of joy all bound up in a personal, dynamic, living relationship with Jesus Christ there is peace; that is rooted in the deepest part of who one is as a person.  This peace provides an inexplicable protection (Philippians 4:7) and it gives one confidence to overcome the struggles of life (John 15:33).

As a follower of Jesus, a disciple, is one who is daily learning to develop the inner qualities of love, joy and peace.  These qualities keep one’s focus on God.

Today’s Tip:  Ask God to help you grow in your love, joy and peace. 

Sit down with a friend who is your “spiritual traveling companion” and ask them to show you how they see you growing in these areas.  Then ask them to show you some ways that you could improve.

Read and think deeply about the following passages: 1 Corinthians 13; Philippians 4:10-20; 1 John 4:7-21.

Write down and share with your “traveling companion” what the Holy Spirit is saying to you from God’s Word.

A characteristic of one who follows Jesus is to bear fruit.

Jesus was a master at using word pictures.  One of his most famous is found in John 15 as he describes the unique relationship we have with him and the Father, as that of a grape vine.  The point of the illustration is found in verse 5 where Jesus says, “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NLT) 

What does it mean to produce fruit?  It may come as a shock to some, but being fruitful as a follower of Jesus Christ is far greater than telling others about Jesus.  There are actually three key aspects that make up the concept of bearing fruit.  These components involve spiritual character development, making other disciples, righteousness and good works and.  We will provide a brief summary of each aspect below and then develop them more in future columns.

Spiritual Character Development (Galatians 5:22-23)

In Galatians 5:22-23 the Apostle Paul lists 9 qualities that make up the “Fruit of the Spirit.”  They are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These characteristics provide the standard by which one can measure personal spiritual development. 

Making Other Disciples (Matthew 28:19)

Jesus’ command to his disciples was to “make disciples.”  This does not mean the follower of Jesus is better than another person.  It simply means that once one has discovered the relief of divine forgiveness; the peace of the presence of God in their life and the power of God’s transforming love, they will want others to join them on the journey. 

Righteousness and Good Works (Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10)

These characteristics complete the circle and bring us back to what it means to abide in Christ.  It means that we are living our lives in such a way that we are seeing growth and spiritual maturity as we actively strive to serve others as Christ served us.

Following Jesus is not the result of a 10 week class, or working through a study guide.  Those things are helpful tools.  But following Jesus is actually a journey that lasts of life time as we let God write his story into our lives.

As God writes his story into my life I will find that he is helping me to be spiritually productive.

Today’s Tip: Think of one way that knowing Jesus has matured you in the past year.

Share what God has done and is doing with a spiritual travelling companion.  Ask them to share one way they have grown in the past year.

Loving others as Jesus loved us

A characteristic of one who follows Jesus is to love one another as Christ loved us.

As they were eating the Passover, the night before Jesus went to the cross to pay the price for our sins he gave his disciples a “new command.”   “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35).

We typically point to the ultimate act of love seen in our Lord’s death as the sole descriptor of his love for us.  But Jesus uses past tense and draws on the experience of the disciples with him to define the type of love they, and we are to have for each other.  How did Jesus show love during his earthly ministry?

He showed kindness to children (Matthew 19:14).  He had compassion on a woman who was an outcast (John 4).  He protected a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11).  He reached out to a tax collector (Luke 19:2-9). He had compassion on people who tracked him down when he tried to get some rest (Mark 5:30-44).  He healed a man who did not even know how to ask for help (John 5:1-15).  He wept at the grave of his friend (John 11).  He washed the feet of his disciples (John 13) and he forgave those who hurt him (Luke 23:34) even though they did not ask for it.  Those are just samples of how Jesus loved.

But Jesus was also a realist.  He knew that people were sinners.  Instead of glossing over their sin, he gently exposed it to the light of his life changing love.  When a person was broken hearted and repented of sin, Jesus granted his forgiveness and did not deepen their sense of guilt (Luke 7:36-50).  For Jesus, to love someone meant to see them exactly as they were and to then seek to move them to become more than they could imagine through relationship with him.

To love people means that I show compassion, kindness, grace and generosity to others.  It means that I pray for them, even when I don’t like them.  It means that I find ways to point others to Jesus as the answer to the deepest need of their life.  It means that I work to see that the person who really irritates me is still a creation of God, whom he loves and was willing to give his son to die for.  It means that when I have wronged someone I ask their forgiveness and when I have been wronged I grant forgiveness.

I will know if I am abiding in the teaching of Jesus as I learn to love other people, realistically and  without conditions.

Today’s Tip: Begin to work on being a person of compassion

Try these ways to grow in your love for others:

            *Pray for God to bless the person that seems to be the biggest irritant in your life.

*After each interaction this week, silently pray: Dear Lord _____________ is the person you love, help me to love them too.

*Read over 1 Corinthians 13 each day and think about what it will look like for you to have the kind of love the Apostle Paul describes in verses 4-7.

Ask a friend to observe your actions and interactions and to hold you accountable to be more loving.

A characteristic of one who follows Jesus is to abide in his words.

Jesus was talking to some Jews who had just believed in him.  His initial instruction to them is “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31 ESV).  So how does one abide in the word of Jesus?  To abide means to remain, to continue, or to dwell.  One could say that the person who abides in the word of Christ lives his or her life by discovering and following the teaching of Jesus.

The term “word” refers to Jesus’ teaching.  Not just his teaching in the Gospels but also his teaching throughout the Bible.  It is easy to read that sentence and become intimidated.  How can one have the time to fully understand the teaching of the Bible?  Jesus, in his interactions with various individuals distilled the teaching of the Bible into two very clear yet complex commands.

In Mark 12:29-31 Jesus reminded his hearers that the most important command was to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” In other words with your entire being (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5).  The second command was to “Love our neighbor as yourself” (see Leviticus 19:18).   Loving God and loving people is a very clear cut principle that reflects the teaching of the entire Bible.  But it is easier said than done.

To love God will require one to be intentional and take time to read the Bible.  The one who loves God will communicate with him in prayer.  We love God when we spend time with other Christ followers in corporate worship and instruction.  We show our love for God when we serve him with our abilities. To love God means my life revolves first around my faith relationship with him.

To love people means that I show compassion, kindness, grace and generosity to others.  It means that I pray for them, even when I don’t like them.  It means that I find ways to point others to Jesus as the answer to the deepest need of their life.  It means that I work to see that the person who really irritates me is still a creation of God, whom he loves and was willing to give his son to die for.  It means that when I have wronged someone I ask their forgiveness and when I have been wronged I grant forgiveness.

I will know if I am abiding in the teaching of Jesus if I am growing in my love for God and love for people.

Today’s Tip: Be Intentional in your relationship with Jesus

Choose one of the following and work on it this week:

            *Begin in the Gospel of John and read one chapter a day.

*Pray for the person who seems to irritate you the most each day.  Ask God to bless their life and to teach you what it means to love them.

*Choose one of the following chapters and work on memorizing it:  Psalm 23; Psalm 139; Isaiah 53; John 3 or James 1.

Share with a friend what Jesus has taught you as you have been intentional in learning to abide in his words.