“圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。” – 加 5:22-23
当加拿大的广袤草原仍然被严寒的冬天紧紧抓住时，我们一家飞到南加州渡假。抵达之后不久，我们在一个公园里意外地看到一棵葡萄柚树。我们时常都会在杂货店购买葡萄柚来吃的，然而，能够直接从树上摘下一个葡萄柚并且立刻在树下剥开吃掉，这是一个令人无法抗拒的诱惑！
可是，所有低垂的果子都已被摘光了。于是，我们的一个女儿便坐在我的肩膀上，手里拿着一根可以够到高处的枝条、把一棵成熟多汁的果子从树上打下来。我们以前从未尝过如此美味的葡萄柚！
多年之后，我的这个已经成年的女儿，再一次坐在我的肩膀上，摘下夏威夷路旁树上的香蕉。我们家自己的后花园有一棵苹果树和一棵梨树，但香蕉却是不同的。在我们的眼中，它… 可是有异国情调的果子啊！
在这个月，我们的每日箴言将会专注果子这个主题 – 不是生长在树上的果子，而是圣灵在我们生命里面所结的果子。尽管在大多数人的生命中，都有少量的仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐（耐性）、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、和节制，然而，当我们按照圣灵的指引，这些特质便会发展成日新月异，生机勃勃的面貌了。
祷告
主啊，求你以你的灵充满我们，好叫我们能按你在我们身上的旨意结出果子来。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
加拉太书 5:16-26
16我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。
17因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争，这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能做所愿意做的。
18但你们若被圣灵引导，就不在律法以下。
19情欲的事都是显而易见的，就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、
20拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、
21嫉妒、醉酒、荒宴等类。我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们：行这样事的人必不能承受神的国。
22圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、
23温柔、节制；这样的事没有律法禁止。
24凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。
25我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。
26不要贪图虚名，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。
The Fruit Of The Spirit
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
Winter had not yet lost its icy grip on the Canadian prairies when our family flew to southern California for a vacation. Soon after arriving, we stumbled upon a grapefruit tree in a park. We often bought grapefruit at the grocery store, but the thought of picking a grapefruit straight from a tree and eating it right there was a temptation we could not resist!
But all of the low-hanging fruit had already been picked. So one of our daughters, sitting on my shoulders, took a long stick and was able to reach high enough to knock down a juicy, ripe fruit from the tree. Never had a grapefruit tasted so good to us!
Years later that same daughter, now an adult, sat on my shoulders again to reach bananas on a roadside tree in Hawaii. We had an apple tree and a pear tree in our own backyard, but this fruit was different. From our perspective it was . . . well, exotic!
This month our daily devotions will focus on fruit—not fruit that grows on trees but fruit that is produced in us by the Holy Spirit. While traces of love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are present in most everyone’s lives, these traits take on a new and vibrant dimension when we walk in step with the Spirit.
Prayer
Lord, fill us with your Spirit so that we may produce fruit in keeping with your purpose for our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
