The Resting Fruit

If the long winter was stressful then a new plan as we move into spring is in order. The first three items of the fruit of the Spirit may be thought of as "resting fruit." They describe our inner rest in Christ. God does not intend for our life to be a burden. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 "...my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." To experience this truth we must allow the Spirit to produce the resting fruit rather than laboriously attempting to produce it ourselves.

The resting fruit includes love, joy and peace. When the Spirit is in control of our lives we can express true self-sacrificing love. Someone has said that this kind of love may be described as follows:

• It is silence when your words would hurt
• It is patience when your neighbor's curt
• It is deafness when a scandal flows
• It is thoughtfulness for other's woes
• It is promptness when stern duty calls
• It is courage when misfortune calls

When the fruit of love is in place the next two follow easily. Joy is not an ongoing state of fun and excitement, but rather an inner state of being "calmly delighted." This only takes place when because of our love we cannot be agitated by the events of life. The end result is peace. Our word peace usually comes from "shalom" which includes a "freedom from strife whether internal or external" and "security from outward enemies as well as calm of heart."

Jesus is the prime example of the resting fruit. When we have a relationship with him we experience his love, joy and peace in our lives. Make this spring a season of rest because of the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your life.