Juice Squeezed from Grapes
We live in a world full of choices, often choices we can pick and choose from, like from an à la carte menu. Sometimes when we go out to eat, we want to order individual dishes from the menu rather than where a set menu at a fixed price is offered. Those restaurant meals offered at fixed prices are called table d´ hôte, which comes from the French phrase, “the host’s table.”
Many times, we want to follow God à la carte. We want to pick and choose which of God’s commands we embrace. God has given is free will to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, etc. Paul tells us that we have freedom in Christ. In Galatians 5:13 we read this, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom in indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” This freedom we have is a liberty (free from restrictions) not a license (permission granted to do something). What I mean by that is our freedom is not a permission granted (since God freely forgives our sins when we repent, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9) to indulge our flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of the sinful acts of the flesh.
Today I want to focus not on the acts that our sinful nature is capable of, but rather, I want to look at the fruit that comes by living in the Spirit. This “Fruit of the Spirit” consists of attitude and actions that should be evident in followers of Jesus. The word “fruit” is in the singular form, meaning it is not an à la carte menu to pick and choose from. These varied fruits are like a bunch of grapes that are one cluster as compared to separate pieces of fruit, ones you can pick and choose from. This singular fruit is contrasted against the plural “acts” of the sinful nature. Just what is this fruit? In Galatians 5:22-23 we find, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there in no law (NASB).”
These virtues need no classification, but to help understand them, let me offer three categories. The first three can be viewed as habits of our heart, the second three as social values, and the last three concern how we are to be in ourselves.
Ask God to help you grow His fruit in your life. And begin to picture yourself as the delicious juice squeezed from grapes. Who doesn’t like a glass of juice or wine made from grapes?
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