There may not be a passage that I have meditated upon more these last few years than the Fruit of the Spirit. When I look to the people that I desire to follow, that I desire to have disciple me, now, over and over again, this is what I look for. I look for the Fruit of the Spirit. Not dynamic leadership. Not strategic thought. But the Fruit of the Spirit. Where these are, there is the spirit of God. We’ll talk more about these fruit in the next couple of days. But I wanted you to hear why this passage is so important to us.

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Good morning! It’s great to be with you on this Tuesday morning as we continue our study in Galatians. Yesterday, I mentioned a significant contrast we would see today. Now, we turn to the fruit of the Spirit, and I have to say, this is one of the most important passages for us as Christians.

The fruit of the Spirit is a true measure of God’s work in our lives. Where these fruit are present, the Spirit of God is present. Jesus tells us in Scripture, “By their fruit, you will know them.” These characteristics cannot be produced by human effort alone—they come from a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

When I was younger, I believed leadership and charisma were what truly mattered in ministry. I admired dynamic, high-energy leaders and thought that passion and strategy were the keys to changing the church. But over time, I’ve learned that true greatness isn’t found in charisma or influence—it’s found in faithfulness.

I used to overlook pastors who weren’t in the spotlight—those who simply preached, visited the sick, and faithfully served their congregations. But now, I see their quiet wisdom. They weren’t seeking fame or power; they were just being faithful. I regret the years I spent chasing after the loudest voices instead of recognizing the steady, humble faithfulness of those truly living out the fruit of the Spirit.

So when I look for spiritual mentors today, I don’t seek out the most dynamic voices or the biggest platforms. Instead, I look for those who exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in their daily lives. I want to learn from those who love well, who are patient, kind, and full of grace.

Let’s read Galatians 5:22-26:

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against each other, envying one another.”

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—this is what the church should strive to embody. These are the qualities we, as believers, should seek to develop in our own lives. If we want to discern what is truly good and worthwhile, this is the test.

I can’t think of anything more important for us to reflect on than the fruit of the Spirit. Tomorrow, we’ll take a deeper look at each of these characteristics. But today, I encourage you to meditate on this passage. Let it challenge you, encourage you, and guide your prayers.

Thanks for being with us today. We’ll continue this discussion tomorrow. Have a great day!