Living From the Inside Out
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22–23
Fruit grows quietly. It forms slowly. No one stands in an orchard and shouts at an apple tree to hurry up and produce fruit. Growth comes through roots, nourishment, sunlight, seasons, and time. When the Apostle Paul speaks about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, he invites us to think about spiritual growth in the same way. This is not about striving harder. It is about living more deeply connected.
Paul contrasts the acts of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. One reflects what flows naturally from our broken, sinful human nature. The other reflects what God grows supernaturally by His Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is not a checklist we accomplish. It is evidence that God is actively transforming us.
Notice that Paul calls it fruit, not fruits. This is not nine separate options to choose from. It is one unified harvest flowing from one holy source. When the Spirit grows love in us, joy is never far behind. When peace deepens, kindness soon follows. Over time, a life rooted in Christ begins to look more and more like Jesus.
Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). Fruit does not prove effort. It reveals identity. The Spirit does His deepest work not for our image but for God’s glory and for the good of others.
Over the next nine weeks, we will walk this garden together, asking God to grow in us what only He can produce.
Spiritual fruit grows best in a life that stays rooted in Christ.
Shawn Thornton’s “All But Normal” Childhood and Path to Ministry (Part 1)
Shawn joins host Stephanie Daniels on the podcast to share his raw and redemptive story of growing up with a mother who had suffered a traumatic brain injury.
