Paul lists: 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.' Character as harvest, not achievement.
I grew up in a achievement-driven culture. You work hard and you get results. That logic applies to a lot of things. But Paul is saying spiritual fruit isn't achieved. It's grown. It's the result of the Spirit's work in you, not your effort.
That shifts my spiritual practice. I'm not trying to generate love or cultivate joy. I'm trying to stay connected to the Spirit and let these things grow. It's like fruit trees: you don't make the tree produce fruit through willpower. You plant it, water it, give it sunlight, and it produces. My job is tending the conditions. The Spirit produces the fruit.
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