Linda Smith has a natural gift for interior design. She holds a BS in Environmental Design from Purdue University and worked at Cincinnati Milacron as their corporate Design Director. Linda enjoys skiing and climbing Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks with her family and is passionate about Bible study and reaching the un-churched in her community. She has been married to her husband, Brent, a facial plastic surgeon, for almost 30 years, and they have four children.

Let's look at the word FRUIT. What does the Fruit of the Spirit mean?
According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, the word comes from the Greek word karpos.

Metaphorically, "fruit" being the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, the character of the "fruit" being evidence of the character of the power producing it.
In other words, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit (the power working in us) we should have the evidence of that power, the Fruit. If we are allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in our everyday life, it will be His character that comes out of us when we are challenged. Instead of responding with hate, we respond with love. We express joy as opposed to sadness. We will not quit but be faithful to our commitments. We will be kind even to the unlovely.

These are just a few examples of the fruit of the Spirit being expressed and not the fruit of the flesh

Challenge:
Which fruit (characteristic) of the Holy Spirit is strong in you?
Which fruit (characteristic) of the Holy Spirit is weak?
Are you listening to Him when He gives you direction?
Are you listening to your flesh?
Do others see the "evidence" of the Holy Spirit in you?

When we allow/let the Holy Spirit be our teacher, leader, guide, helper and comforter His fruit will be produced within us and be evidenced through our lives.

Judy Nelson lives a life of prayer that began 30 years ago when she fell in love with Jesus. She attended Gwynedd Mercy College in Philadelphia and has worked as a teacher, substitute teacher, and administrative assistant. Judy enjoys walking, reading, painting, homemaking, and climbing. She has been married to her husband, Chris, for 35 years and is a proud mother of four, and grandmother of ten.