But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Every gardener knows two things: The fruit depends on the root, and fruit happens naturally – fruit cannot be “willed” to appear.  Roots are very specific in nature. There is a direct correlation between the root and the plant – tomato, squash, bean, or other plant. And, of course, plants naturally produce their own kind of fruit, not the fruit of a different plant.  The other thing that is necessary is the plant to be healthy in or to naturally produce their fruit; it cannot be forced to appear.

In spiritual terms, the New Testament speaks of both root and fruit. In Colossians 2:7, Paul wrote that we are “rooted and built up in Christ.” In other words, we are in Christ, born again to become different beings than we were before. In plant terms, whatever fruit Christ produced in His life, we should reproduce in our life. 

Paul also wrote of that fruit, calling it “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). That fruit cannot be willed into existence by us. It is the result of the Spirit living in us.

If you want to manifest love, joy, peace, and other attributes of Christ, you must be rooted in Him by faith. From the root comes the supernatural fruit. The plant, however, needs to be healthy.  We need to be spiritually healthy in order for the Holy Spirit to produce that fruit in and through us.  Being in the Word daily and applying that Word to our everyday life, living for Jesus, with ensure a healthy spiritual life in which the Holy Spirit can work.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:8,9

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth). 

Let’s make it a priority to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others today.

“Fruit is evidence of the root.”  – John Blanchard