Galatians 5:22-23 “…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law…”
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is His character revealed through us as a result of His indwelling presence. As we grow in Christ, more of His character becomes who we are.
Love–God’s love is an unselfish love which has concern and empathy for others. It’s an unconditional love with ‘no strings attached’. It’s a real, genuine love for others—even though they may not be so loving towards us, because God’s love isn’t in response to another’s love for us—it loves despite not receiving love in return.
Joy–Being joyful in the Lord is not based on outward experiences. It’s an inner joy (not as the world knows it), which springs up from within as a result of our relationship with Jesus. We can still experience the joy of the Lord when life seems to be all but joyful—because the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Peace–Like joy, the peace of God is an inner calm and serenity not based on any outward circumstances. We feel secure in knowing that the presence of God is always with us. And as we give over our hurts, anxiety, fears and offences, God’s peace will rise up within us and envelop us.
Patience–Being patient is the outward expression of having God’s peace. We don’t get agitated when we get held up in traffic, or when in line at the supermarket, or while waiting for someone who is running late. I like the way the amplified bible puts it: “It’s not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting”.
