A Fruitful Life
Title: A Fruitful Life
Materials: Watercolour
Artwork by: Jenn Cruz (@lovethatletters)
Description: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
What does it mean to live with the “fruit of the spirit”? How can we recognize these “fruits”? How can we see the beauty of each aspect and prayerfully ask God to help us live out these characteristics as engage in relationships?
Over the last month, I painted each attribute of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit live on Instagram. As I was painting, I invited the followers to discuss the attributes at hand, sharing our difficulties and engaging in encouraging conversation to spur each other on. My intent was to get viewers to ask themselves the question: what does having the Fruit of the Spirit mean to you?
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience (Colossians 1:11)
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love (2 Corinthians 6:4-6)
For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Ephesians 5:9)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love. (Ephesians 3:16-17)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
I find that bearing fruit is not an easy job …. Some trees take yrs just developing a root system ….
When Christ spoke about bearing fruit one that lasts he said you shall know them by the fruits they bear !!!!
A good tree bears good fruit out of the goodness it has ….
Jesus came to a fig tree and demanded it’s fruits … This tree was in leave and according to one expert fig trees are perennial fruiters ..
This one had no figs so Jesus placed a curse on it .. the nxt day the disciples were walking with Jesus and just happened to pass by the same tree ….
One of them said master look it’s the tree you cursed …
Look it’s dried out from the root !!!!
What am I saying ??? When it comes to bearing fruit a bad tree bears bad fruits from you badness inside , just like the bare fig tree ….
It had all the symptoms of a healthy tree but when Christ demand it produces figs it couldn’t !!!
We are not in the business of faking it like the fig tree all leaved out and no fruits when demand was there ….
Let everybody check whether he stands lest he falls ….
Check whether you are of the faith …
Make your calling and election sure …
Let no man think too highly of himself but think of himself with sober judgment !!!!
Do not just look out for your own interests but fit for the interests of others as well…