Fruits & Vegtables

Pastor Paul has been preaching on Galations 5:22-25, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

In one sermon, Paul noted that just as patience was a fruit of the spirit, impatience was a reflection of our sinful nature. Afterward, I asked him, "Is this true for each item on the list of Fruit of the Spirit ... is the opposite of each Fruit essentially a Vegtable of the Flesh?"

His response was, "Yes, each one has an opposite in our sinful nature that is a rotting vegtable :~)"

I've been pondering that quite a bit, as it seems an easy litmus test as to whether on a moment-by-moment basis I am walking with the Spirit and being transformed into the character of Christ or whether I'm limping along in my sinful nature being trapped and controlled by my fleshly responses. So I'm thinking through what that might look like ...

Fruit . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vegtable
of the Spirit . . . . . . of the Flesh

Love. . . . . . . . . . . . Self-Centered
Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bitter / Whiny
Peace . . . . . . . . . . . Anxiety / Worry
Patience . . . . . . . . . Irritated / Judgmental
Kindness . . . . . . . . . Snappy / Rude
Goodness . . . . . . . . . Mean
Faithfulness . . . . . . . Unable to fulfil commitments
Gentleness . . . . . . . . Forceful
Self-Control . . . . . . . Wasteful / Unfocused

Gal 5:22-23 from the message translation reads, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.These are gifts from God, the key to our joy and contentment. As we give away our self-centeredness and release our flesh to the Spirit, as only happens in God's economy, we in giving away get more than we could have ever desired."

My prayer is to intentionally live God's way, moment-by-moment, controlled by His Spirit and producing His sweet fruit, rather than controlled by my flesh and producing rotten vegatables.