NewSpring Church Daily Devotionals

If we want spiritual fruit to grow in us, we must join our lives with Jesus’ life. Get to know Him, love Him and imitate Him.

Read: Galatians 5:22-23

Fall is upon us. And with fall comes the apple harvest. At an apple orchard, each section of trees is identified by its fruit. Granny Smith apples are green. Golden Delicious are yellower than Granny Smith, and Gala apples are pinker than Red Delicious.

The Bible often alludes to plants to illustrate truths about the Christian life. In Galatians 5, Paul talks about the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us. Verses 22 and 23 list them out: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As you follow Jesus, you start to see these characteristics in your life. More importantly, others begin to see them in your life. In the same way that apple trees are easily identified by the fruit hanging from their branches, the fruit of the Spirit should stand out in your life and easily identify you as a Christian. 

For the orchard owner, a tree with no fruit is a cause for concern. Perhaps the tree is sick, or perhaps it’s not an apple tree at all. The same is true for spiritual fruit. Maybe there is a heart issue that needs to be dealt with. A lack of fruit can also signal that someone doesn’t really know Jesus.

If we want spiritual fruit to grow in us, we must join our lives with Jesus’ life. Get to know Him, love Him and imitate Him. As the Holy Spirit works, you may just find some apples on your branches.