The Fruit Grow Together

One thing that looking at the 9 Christian graces known as the fruit of the Spirit has done for me is challenge me with the holistic nature of being a disciple.  I can’t “specialize” in one or two of the graces that come more naturally to me.  And if I’m seeing “kindness” that has no patience and self-control with it—it is NOT Spirit-wrought kindness.  Tim Keller has some helpful observations:

If the fruit of the Spirit really only grow together, what practical difference does that make to us?

First, it means that even our strengths have to be renewed.

• In Christ all things truly are become new (2 Cor.5:17). It means that when we become Christians we get the seed of every part of perfect, holy character and behavior toward God and others.
• Thus even our “strengths” get a new basis and power. In actual practice, a Christian’s strengths are a mixture of older natural temperament and self-interest, and new supernatural operation by the Spirit using the logic of the gospel within us.
• There will be times when we will be shocked that something we thought we were very strong in–fails. It is because to some degree our strengths are based on old foundations. Second, it means that we are spiritually only as strong as our weakest graces.

• In other words, to see the real level of the Holy Spirit in our lives, go to the weakest link in the chain of the fruit of the Spirit. That is, look at an area where by natural temperament and ability you are very weak. As you grow there, you see more clearly to what degree you are maturing in the Spirit.