Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re told “You’re not acting like Christ?” Ouch, that hurts! Well, As Christians, we are called to be Christlike in our daily lives. This can be a daunting task, but we are not left alone in this journey. The Holy Spirit has given us the tools we need to cultivate a Christlike character, and it begins with the fruit of the Spirit. In this article, You’ll be enlightened on what it means to be Christlike and how to maximise the fruit of the Spirit.
What Are The Fruits of The Spirit?
The fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 — “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
From the above, you can deduce that those are not qualities that you can develop on your own, but rather they are produced by the Holy Spirit working in you as you yield to His guidance.
How can you Cultivate these Fruits in your lives?
Love
The first fruit of the Spirit is love, and it is the foundation of all the other fruit. Love is not just a feeling but an action. We must love others as Christ loved us, sacrificially and unconditionally.
Remember Matthew 22:37-39— says ‘…You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’[NLT]
In other words, You are expected to put the needs of others before your own and be willing to forgive and show grace. However, this is only possible when you love God and He has taught you the act of Loving.
Joy
Joy is not dependent on your circumstances but on your relationship with God. It is the feeling of contentment and peace that comes from knowing that you are loved and valued by God. Joy can be cultivated by focusing on the good things in your life, being grateful for what you have, and trusting God even when things are difficult.
This character of Joy can be built by constantly spending time with God.
Peace
Peace comes from having a deep sense of security in God’s love and provision. You can cultivate peace by learning to trust God in every area of your life, giving your worries and fears to Him, and choosing to live in harmony with others.
I often tell people that “Peace is not the absence of Storm, but it’s the assurance of Jesus in your boat.” Even the scripture says in John 14:27—“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” [NLT]
Patience
Patience is the ability to endure difficult circumstances or people without becoming angry or frustrated. patience can be cultivated by choosing to see others as God sees them, being slow to anger, and trusting that God’s timing is perfect. Proverbs 15:18 says— “Hot Temper causes arguments, but patience brings peace.” [MSB]
Kindness
This is the act of showing love and concern for others in practical ways. This can be done by serving others, being quick to offer a helping hand and speaking words of encouragement. Luke.6.36— tells us that “Our Father is kind; you be kind.” [MSB]
Goodness
Goodness is the quality of being morally upright and pure. By cultivating goodness you’re choosing to live a life that is pleasing to God, avoiding sin, and seeking to do what is right even when it is difficult.
Self-control
Self-control is the ability to resist temptation and control your impulses. You can cultivate self-control by seeking God’s help, avoiding situations that trigger your weaknesses, and practising discipline in your daily life. Proverbs 25:28 says—“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” [NLT]
CONCLUSION
Cultivating a Christlike character is about asking “What would Jesus have done If He was in this situation?” It is not something that we can do on our own. It requires the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we yield to His guidance and seek to live in obedience to God’s Word. The fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, etc can be cultivated through daily practice, praying for the grace to exhibit it and yielding to it.
As you cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in your life, you will become more like Christ, and your life will be a testimony to the power of God’s transforming love.
Amen.