Devotionals for the Heart: How to bear good fruit in God's Kingdom

Fruit Bearing in God’s Kingdom
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

—Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

This morning a friend sent me a video of her little granddaughter reciting Galatians 5:22-23. She couldn’t have been more than five or six years old, but she was perfectly at ease as she quoted God’s word without any coaching. It was a beautiful testimony of her family’s dependence on the Lord and their devotion to teaching their children to memorize Scripture.

That little girl’s testimony convicted me not just because she knew all the words, but because her sweet face was wreathed in smiles as she spoke. She was dancing as she remembered each part, and when she finished her joyful rendition, she looked up adoringly at her parents to make sure she had said it all perfectly.

It convicted me because I realized how seldom God’s fruit of the Spirit in me looks like that young child. And it made me wonder if anyone who knows me would even recognize me if my face was as radiant as the girl in the video appeared. Are the spiritual fruits that the Lord wants me to exhibit evident in my life?

Lately, I’d have to say maybe not.

Why do I let the cares and concerns of daily living defeat God’s invitation to live by the Spirit and to produce His fruit in my life? How do I become so overwhelmed with calendars and schedules that kindness and gentleness rush out of my relationships? What will it take to show me how to dance again in the eyes of my Heavenly Father simply because there is so much joy in His presence? When will I wake up and realize that there is beauty in faithfulness, peace in obedience, and self-control in His strength?

As the Old Testament psalmist asked, “How long, O Lord?” Psalm 13:1 (ESV).

So, instead of whining and complaining about having too much to do, my question to God now is, “Lord, how long do I need to exhibit Your spiritual fruit in my life?” Rhetorical questions like this one deserve only one answer, and the answer is always.

Does God want us to always share His fruit of the Spirit with those in the world around us? Absolutely! How can we do that? One word: obedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It’s a great place to start.

Give thanks because our joints are hurting? Sure, and while we’re at it, let’s thank God for the physical therapist who is helping us to feel better. Thank Him for our meager paycheck? Of course! Thank Him for giving us a job.

Is practicing gratitude working for you yet? It is for me. Somehow life seems a little bit more hopeful. Maybe it feels a little more joyful. And maybe obedience is even showing me how to live closer to Christ. If this keeps up, I might turn into that little girl who loves learning God’s Word. My aching joints don’t ache quite as much when I’m dancing!

Whatever our circumstances, our thankful attitudes are steps of obedience to create loving, peaceful, joyful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled fruit for the Lord to multiply as He sees fit.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, cautions us about fruit-bearing in Matthew 21:18-22 (ESV). During the last few days before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection, He and His disciples were walking one day when they came to a fig tree that was barren, with no fruit on it anywhere. Jesus says to the tree, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Matthew 21:19). That tree withered immediately at the rebuke of our Lord.

Let’s not be like that barren tree. In obedience, let us follow Jesus every day of our lives. May we have fruit to share with our brothers and sisters in this world so we can resemble that little girl who gazed up in adoration when she finished her verses. Our Father (God) sees and is glad when we follow Him genuinely.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord God, oh, how we need You! Please show us the places where You ask us to obey. Please forgive us for our gloomy outlooks and for our rebellion against You, too. Lord, we need Your spiritual face-lifts in our lives. Please let us please You, our Savior and our God. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Wanna Bear Fruit (the Fruit of the Spirit)” by CJ and Friends. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com