Have you ever received or given a basket of fruit to anyone? Sometimes people receive such a gift from the office, or when sick in the hospital, or for Christmas hostess gifts. When I was growing up, fruit baskets suggested health, freshness, hospitality, being remembered and cared for. Of course, I’ve always loved fruit. What is your favorite fruit? Our communion basket may not have your favorite represented, but I hope you will come today to receive from this basket of fruit whether to nurture yourself or to share with another.
As I prepared for today I was reminded that the fruit of the Spirit is different from the gifts of the Spirit. Much of my life I think I’ve confused the two. Gifts of the Spirit are given to all of us. Sometimes it is difficult to discern and to accept our own gifts. In 1st Corinthians 12: 4-7 we are told that all are gifted by God with different gifts.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
This tells us that we are all talented in some way in which we can serve God and God’s children. I resisted learning about my talents. I didn’t really want to discover some of them. I certainly didn’t want to claim some of them. What woman in her right mind chooses to be a Baptist pastor? I preferred to try to fit in with the goals of normal people. From the very beginning I should have known as a Missionary Kid from Hong Kong who was born in Africa, my chances of being normal were slim!
As we consider this basket of fruit, I’d like us to consider the fruits of the Spirit. I confused fruits of the Spirit with goals to achieve. The fruits of the Spirit are not possessions, nor are they goals. Rather, they are expressions of the indwelling of the Spirit, of our dependence upon the Spirit, of the fullness of life in the Spirit. They show the results of letting the Spirit live in us and through us.
A dear friend of mine said recently that she hoped she could show Kindness each day. She said if she could manage that one thing, everything else would fall into place. Sounds simple. Have you ever tried to be kind in traffic? in the grocery store line? on the sidelines of your child’s ball game or school activity? Is kindness your first reaction when someone takes advantage of you or a loved one at work or at home? When we are able to be kind, we defuse unhealthy stressors that can cripple us. Being Kind occurs to us when we rely on God as the source of hope and healing.
Another fruit is Self-control. That’s an interesting one. It’s not that one must be rigid and harshly restrictive to exhibit this fruit of the Spirit. Some religious people seem to misunderstand this dynamic. Self-control actually frees a person to live more fully and comfortably. Healthy self-control empowers a person. When we freely practice the disciplines of our faith, self-control becomes a joyful option.
Joy is usually considered a Christmas fruit. That is we sing songs of “Joy” at Christmas time and celebrate the Joy of Christ’s birth. Joy however can emerge throughout the year. Just as Love and Goodness appear in every season.
Faithfulness, Gentleness, Patience and Peace may be summer fruits that we recognize when we feel more relaxed and comfortable in less hectic times of our lives. When we pace ourselves our hearts and minds will be blessed by solitude and the affirmation of God’s loving presence.
Perhaps this is too simplistic a way to look at the fruits of the Spirit. Today, please take a fruit with you and consider the fruits of God’s delight. Although humans may have planted the seeds and watered and nurtured the plants and trees which bear fruit, we know that all of these were created by God. Notice as the Spirit emerges in your day, how blessed you feel, how assured you are of God’s presence and power in your life. The fruits of the Spirit remind us that we are not the source of the Power. We have a lot of creative power to use, but we are not its source. After we have discerned our gifts and honed our craft. It’s when we are centered, grounded, prepared, when we are silent and still and rest in God’s love and grace that these fruits emerge within us and through us to touch the lives of those who are around us.
By your fruits shall you be known.
Maybe the gift of a basket of fruit, rather than a thumping Bible or a loud sermon, would be a creative and welcoming way for Christians to reveal the grace of God. (One might notice that Christians have not cornered the market on these fruits of the Spirit.) As summer ends and fall schedules begin to demand your energy, remember the Sabbath. Trust that God has already provided the resources to see you through. That which God provides is enough. Be open to God’s abundance – Celebrate the Abundant Life.
Shema, Israel. Adonai elohenu. Adonai ehad. The Lord our God is one God. Be still, Be silent, and Rest in God who loves you.
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