Date: Friday, 8th August, 2025
Text: Galatians 5:22-23
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Just like a tree is identified by the fruit it produces, a person is identified by the kind of behaviour he puts up.
The Fruit of the Spirit, therefore, refers to the nine characteristics reflected in the life of a believer who lives in accordance with the Holy Spirit. The word of God in Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
To start with ‘Love’ is the first of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is the foundation upon which all other fruits are built because it influences joy, peace, patience and others. Without love, spiritual actions are meaningless before God (1 Corinthians 13:1–3). Love reflects God’s nature. “God is love.” 1 John 4:8.
Love is a selfless commitment to the well-being of others. In Greek, the word used is “agape” – the highest form of love- selfless love.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The fruit of love in a believer’s life is a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work. It’s not enough to love those who love us back, but we are expected to also love our enemies, and forgive those who hurt us, and serve others with humility just as Christ did.
Reflective Nugget: We show we are His children when we love like Him.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 15-17