Led by His Spiritনমুনা

Here in California, we have wonderful oranges. As you drive through agricultural regions, you can see grove after grove of orange trees. Over the years I’ve seen a lot of work go into those orchards. I’ve seen watering and pruning and, of course, harvesting. But I have never yet seen a planter out in the field talking to the orange trees and telling them that they need to get busy having oranges.

Why? Because oranges are a natural result of healthy orange trees. In the same way, spiritual fruit is the natural result of a healthy Christian. This fruit is not the result of our efforts but of the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Galatians 5:22–23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” These qualities flow from a life surrendered to the Spirit. If your life is not producing fruit, it is a sign that something is wrong spiritually.

Jesus tells us that if we abide in Him—if our hearts are fixed on Him and His Word fills our minds—the Holy Spirit will work through us to bear fruit. As we yield to the Spirit’s control and deepen our relationship with Christ, fruitfulness is assured.

The purpose of this fruit is not our glory but to bring honor to God. Everything we do is meant to glorify our Father in Heaven, and the Spirit enables us to fulfill this purpose.