Galatians 5:22-23

Have you ever bitten into a piece of fruit that looked beautiful on the outside, but the moment you took a bite, it was dry, mealy, or sour?

It’s disappointing, right? Because what looked good on the outside didn’t live up to it on the inside.

I remember when I was working at a hotel where we had a bowl of gorgeous apples and pears on the check-in counter. As I was checking in a guest, someone grabbed one of the pears and bit into it—only to discover it was made of wax! Their disappointment was obvious… and we were not thrilled either since that pear had to be tossed.

That’s a pretty good picture of what can happen in our Christian lives too. Sometimes, we look like we have it all together on the outside—saying the right things, going to church, acting the part. But what’s happening on the inside? What’s growing deep in our hearts?

Jesus said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16). That’s because what people see in our lives reveals who’s really in charge of our hearts.

In Galatians 5, Paul gives us a list of what should be growing in the life of someone who is walking with the Holy Spirit. He calls it “the fruit of the Spirit.”

But this isn’t about trying harder or gritting your teeth to be better. It’s not self-improvement. It’s the result of surrendering—yielding our hearts and decisions to the Holy Spirit.

Years ago, missionary Elisabeth Elliot went back to live among the same tribe in Ecuador that had killed her husband. She brought her young daughter and began ministering to the very people who had taken her husband’s life. Why? Because God had done a deep work in her heart. What the world saw in her wasn’t human determination—it was supernatural fruit: love, peace, gentleness.

The world pays attention to that kind of fruit. It’s real. It’s powerful. It points to a supernatural God working in an ordinary life.

Let’s take a closer look at what this fruit is, where it comes from, and why it matters.

The Fruit Has One Source

Paul says, “The fruit of the Spirit is...” (Galatians 5:22). Notice he doesn’t say “fruits” plural, but “fruit” singular. This matters. It’s not a pick-and-choose list. These aren’t personality traits some people have and others don’t. It’s a full package—a cluster of character traits that grow together when the Spirit is in charge of our lives.

This fruit doesn’t come from personality, discipline, or even a strong upbringing. It comes from the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul calls it the fruit of the Spirit. We can’t produce it by ourselves. Jesus said in John 15:5, “...for without me ye can do nothing.”

If we try to live the Christian life in our own strength, it’ll always fall flat. But when we stay connected to Christ and listen to the Spirit’s voice, something amazing starts to grow in us.

The Fruit Looks Like Jesus

Here’s what Paul says this fruit looks like: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Let’s break that down in plain language.

• Love: Choosing to care for others even when it costs you something.
• Joy: A deep sense of gladness that doesn’t disappear when life gets tough.
• Peace: Calmness in your heart because you trust God, even in a storm.
• Longsuffering: Patience with people—especially the difficult ones.
• Gentleness: Kindness that shows up in how you treat others.
• Goodness: A heart that genuinely wants to do what’s right and bless others.
• Faith: A steady, dependable character that people can trust.
• Meekness: Strength under control—a humble spirit.
• Temperance: Self-control—the ability to say “no” to the flesh and “yes” to God.

These traits aren’t moods or temporary emotions. They’re steady, growing qualities that show up when we’re consistently walking with the Spirit.

The Fruit Changes Everything

When Paul finishes listing these traits, he adds, “Against such there is no law.” In other words, there’s no law on earth or in Scripture that condemns this kind of life. In fact, when you live this way, you’re fulfilling God’s law in the best way possible.

More than that, this kind of life is powerful. It helps us overcome the temptations of the flesh. It’s proof that Jesus is alive in us. It’s what the world needs to see—less religious performance, and more Spirit-filled authenticity.

Final Thoughts

So, what kind of fruit is growing in your life?

Is it something real and lasting—or is it just for appearances?

You don’t have to force it. You don’t have to fake it. You just need to walk with the Spirit.

Stay connected to Christ. Yield to His Spirit. Let Him do what only He can do in you.

As Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Let’s live that way—and show the world what Jesus looks like… one fruit at a time.