In today’s contemporary world, if you are in need of an academic certificate towards the pursuance of a career, then you may need to enrol at an Institution of learning. Your study in your chosen path most times reflect in the way you think, the problems you tackle, the way you talk etc. All these reflections are characteristics of what you have learned. They show that you have been schooled in a particular field.
When Christians gather together in the name of the LORD, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit should be in evidence since all have been sealed in the Lord by the same Spirit. When we come into the presence of the LORD, we should have it at the back of our minds that we have come to fellowship with God and must focus all our attention on Him. God is a teacher, so also the Lord Jesus Christ. When the LORD was with men physically on earth, it is no wonder that He was called teacher or Rabbi which means a Jewish scholar. One of the things that amazed the people in the days of Jesus was His teachings and doctrines such as the teachings on the mount in Matthew chapter 5. His words were revealed with grace and high wisdom just as can be seen in many of His parables.
In the parable of the sower, it was revealed that the seeds which fell on good grounds yielded bountifully, giving out crops in hundred fold, sixty fold and thirty fold, (Matthew 13:1-23). Now, the LORD has been sowing His good seeds of words in the land of our hearts, and He is expecting good crops or fruits in return. It is our responsibilities as Christians to manifest the good fruits which the good word of the LORD has brought to us.
What is this good fruit that we should manifest? This is the fruit of the Spirit of God. The fruit is: love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, (Galatians 5:22-23, NKJV).
If we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, then the fruit mentioned above is what we should manifest in speech, behaviour, and our general disposition to others. This is because this fruit symbolises and law and kingdom of God. It is very important because if we are manifesting other things which are alien to the ones mentioned above in the book of Galatians, then we are not good representatives of the kingdom of God. Our disposition towards others on earth are not supposed to be like those that the devil has schooled. The fruit of the Spirit in us is the assurance that we have been with the LORD just as it could be seen in Peter and John (Acts 4:13).
Finally, as Christians, we must take heed in order to show forth the glory of God through the fruit of the Spirit, because the fruit of the spirit can be likened to our works, that is, good works which cannot be burned when tried with fire. But if we are showing forth works that are not authentic and cannot endure in God’s kingdom, the works will surely be burned in the day that they will be tried.
We are created for God’s glory. Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16. If the fruit of the Spirit of God is not evident in our lives, our light will not shine as God intended, the good works may not happen and men will not glorify the name of the LORD on our account.
So we must prioritise the fruit of the Spirit in our Christian walk with God so that we are not only saved but in order not to suffer loss, (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).