Jesus Himself said that a good tree bears good fruit and that we would meet false prophets by their fruit. The fruits are visible, you know that the fruits of an apple tree are in sight, in the same way the actions of people, whether good or bad, are in the light of day.
When the Lord spoke these words, He was making it very clear that faith is not only something that is spoken with the mouth, but something that is lived and demonstrated daily. A tree does not need to make noise to show what kind of tree it is; it simply produces fruit according to its nature. In the same way, a believer shows his or her spiritual condition through attitudes, words, and actions.
But the Bible not only tells us about the bad actions of false prophets, there are also a series of fruits that tells us that those who live in the Spirit must possess them:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.Galatians 5:22-23
These fruits are not optional characteristics for the Christian life; they are evidence of a genuine relationship with God. The apostle Paul explains that when a person walks in the Spirit, these virtues begin to grow naturally, just as fruit grows on a healthy tree. They are not produced by human effort alone, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts.
Many times these verses are left behind when we are going to refer to spirituality, and it should not be so, because they are the very essence of a man and a woman who actually leads a healthy and admirable spiritual life.
Love, for example, is the foundation of all the other fruits. Without love, joy becomes superficial, peace becomes fragile, and patience disappears quickly. True love, born from God, allows us to forgive, to serve others, and to remain firm even when circumstances are difficult. This love is not based on emotions, but on obedience and commitment to the will of God.
Joy and peace are also fruits that reflect a life surrendered to the Lord. They do not depend on external situations, but on the confidence that God is in control. A believer who walks in the Spirit can face trials, difficulties, and even persecution, without losing hope, because his trust is placed in God and not in the world.
Let us be careful not to fall into the same error as the Corinthians, who thought that by having an abundance of spiritual gifts they were really spiritual.
The Corinthian church had many gifts, but they struggled with divisions, pride, and lack of love. This teaches us an important lesson: spiritual gifts do not necessarily indicate spiritual maturity. A person can operate in gifts and still lack the character that God desires. That is why the fruit of the Spirit is so important; it reveals the transformation of the heart.
The gifts are a powerful gift from God, but the fruits are the full and pure demonstration that we really are children of God, that we are different. Therefore, brothers, let us try to show each one of those fruits.
Showing the fruit of the Spirit is a daily commitment. It requires prayer, humility, and constant dependence on God. As we surrender our lives to Him, He shapes our character and helps us reflect Christ in everything we do. May our lives be like good trees, planted by the Lord, producing fruit that glorifies His name and blesses those around us.