Fruit of the Spirit

In heaven there will be no sin. To imagine what this will mean as we fellowship with other believers we can think about the fruit of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23. There will be no more disagreements or hurt feelings or anger or sadness.

We have all likely shown the fruit of the Spirit to others or have been on the receiving end of them. Being shown love without any conditions. Joy based on obeying God’s will and fellowship with other believers. Peaceful thoughts from harmony, unity, contentment, and a lack of fear. Forbearance to show patience when it is required. Kindness to put others at ease and to be a friend. Goodness to be generous to others and selfless. Faithfulness to demonstrate trust and conviction for what is right by being devoted to God, family, and friends. Gentleness to be humble with a compassionate approach toward others’ weaknesses. Self-control to restrain one’s emotions, actions, and desires and to be in harmony with the will of God. Thinking about those experiences and knowing that in heaven this is what will occur all the time is quite wonderful!

In our time on earth we can strive to live out the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12. On earth, we know that there is still sin, sadness, and pain. Showing God’s love to others can make a big difference.

There once was a contest to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly man whose wife had recently passed away. Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into the old man’s yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

At times we experience suffering, pain, and sadness. God is always with us and seeks to help us. God can use each of us to share His love and compassion. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 1 Corinthians 1: 3-4. We can look forward to the eternity we will spend in heaven where we will only experience love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Reference:
Stohlmann, M. (2020).  The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP.