“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
As followers of Jesus, we’ve all had the feeling of grasping for one of these fruits of the Spirit while wondering if we had a single one to give. A reader once wrote to me, “I think I have plenty of each of the fruits when I don’t need them. It’s when I’m in a trying situation that I discover the fruit I need is the one I’m short of.” I’ve always loved this woman for her honesty because we can all relate to her sentiment. I have patience in droves when everything is going my way. I’m the kindest person I know when people are treating me well. I’ve got humility for days when no one is challenging my pride. You see where I’m headed here…fruits are not fruits until they’re tested.
Which leads us to another challenge: What do we do when we’re trying to heed Paul’s advice to wear these fruits, yet we have very little compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, or patience growing in our hearts? Not to mention, when we study these fruits we realize that each has a powerful meaning, and Jesus embodied all of them (perhaps another post for another day). In other words, when Paul asks us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, he’s asking something extraordinary of us. This way of living and being around others isn’t something we can simply will ourselves into. I tried to do this for the longest time until Paul’s opening line grabbed my attention: “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved…”
[click_to_tweet tweet=”“When I truly believe I’m significant to my Savior, the fruits flow more freely from within me.”” quote=”“When I truly believe I’m significant to my Savior, the fruits flow more freely from within me.””]
For most of my life, I’d inadvertently leaped straight over these doctrinal principles, not realizing that these truths are the very basis for being able to love one another with the fruits of Jesus. And oh the difference this has made.
TO BE CHOSEN
The Greek word for chosen is eklektos. It means picked out, chosen to obtain salvation through Christ. When we sit in the reality and mystery that God chose us before the foundations of the world to be His adopted son or daughter (Ephesians 1:4-5), our heart can’t help but soften and enlarge. When I truly believe I’m significant to my Savior, the fruits flow more freely from within me.
TO BE SET APART
In addition to being chosen, we’ve been made holy. The Greek word here is hagios, and it means to be set apart for God, to be exclusively His. The word can also mean sacred, unlike or otherness, different. When we’re grounded and settled in the reality that we’ve been set apart for special and sacred purposes within God’s Kingdom, the fruits come more naturally. When we’re secure in our calling, the posture of humility and the ability to cheer for others will flow more freely.
TO BE DEARLY LOVED
Some Bible versions say beloved instead of dearly loved. Both express the deep and beautiful meaning of the Greek word agapao, which is an active love. It means “to be fond of,” “dear,” “precious,” and “costly.” Growing up I sometimes felt more tolerated by God than I did precious to Him. As though I’d barely made the cut as His child. But Paul boldly declared that we are His beloved in Jesus Christ. We won’t be able to effectively embody the fruits of Jesus without first knowing how dearly He loves us.
Simply put, we often try to live the fruits of the Spirit in hopes of being chosen by God, loved by Him, and set apart by Him, when in reality it’s the other way around. Because we are chosen, made holy, and set apart, we are now able to bear the fruit as Jesus has taken up residence in our hearts. While sanctification plays a part in fruitful living, and sanctification takes time, the fruits of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are always accessible to you, because Jesus is the embodiment of them all. And He loves you dearly.
Would you like an excerpt of Kelly’s Finding God Faithful Bible Study?
Click HERE to sign up and it will be delivered straight to your inbox.
This post originally appeared on lifewayvoices.com
Letting Go of the Christmas Ideal for Christ Himself
The Christmas season is upon us, often meaning our joys and sorrows are increasingly magnified. If our lives are brimming with joy and loved ones near, well, the strings of bulb lights and wintery wreaths energize that happiness like cinnamon to steaming cider. But if...
A Disney Trip and 3 Reasons I’m Choosing Aunthood
I just got back from Disney World with my parents, siblings, in-laws and five nieces and nephews, twelve of us in all. I’m not really an amusement park person by nature—something about suffocating crowds and lines that serpentine in numbing rows and $14 turkey legs...
In the Word In 2016, One Day At A Time
In The Word In 2016, One Day At A Time Morning Meditation, January 2016 Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” It’s that first week of January. That week I equally anticipate and dread. The parties and late nights and tins of...
Immanuel, God With Us
Merry Christmas Friends, I hope you all are having a meaningful Advent season. I've always felt that the holidays magnify whatever state we're already in. If we're in love, the season strings lights around our romances; If we're lonely or hurting, those same lights...
A Monday Memo
Dear Blog Readers - We wanted to pass along the message that Kelly is out this week ministering (and resting) with dear friends overseas. She thought you might enjoy this photo from a young adult gathering she had the privilege of being part of in Milan on Sunday...
Opening Our Eyes To See The Harvest
“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 Jesus spoke these words to His disciples on the heels of a significant encounter He’d had with a woman from Samaria. He’d...
Morning Meditation: Encourage While It’s Called Today
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." Hebrews 3:13 Yesterday I was rushing to get out of the house for an afternoon walk with a friend; I am a professional rusher of a human. (Is...
Morning Meditation: Three Truths Jesus Taught About Bearing Fruit
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me...
The Power To Believe You Are Loved
Morning Meditation, September 28, 2015 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses...
A Birthday and Three Gifts of God’s Faithfulness
Morning Meditation, September 21, 2015 "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23 I turn a year older this week. What is it about birthdays,...