Saturday in the Word | Freedom and the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5

Today, we continue our journey through our Simple Bible Reading Plan, as we unpack the Apostle Paul’s teachings in Galatians 5.

Paul has something important to say about freedom.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.5.1.ESV

As usual, Paul is pretty straightforward.

However, our Christian freedom isn’t simply the freedom to do whatever we want.

It’s freedom from the things that once held us captive and freedom to live differently. Our chains are gone!

Paul tells us not to use our freedom “as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

That’s an interesting picture of freedom and counter to the world’s message that tells us freedom means I get to do what I want.

Jesus gives us a different kind of freedom:

I am free to love.
I am free to serve.
I am free to follow Jesus.
I am free to become the person God created me to be.

And then Paul gives us one of the most familiar passages in Scripture:

The fruit of the Spirit.

Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.

Notice that Paul doesn’t call these the fruits of the Spirit.

It’s fruit.

One Spirit. One life being transformed from the inside out.

The beautiful thing about fruit is that you don’t have to tape fruit onto a tree to make it look fruitful because healthy trees grow fruit.

The Christian life isn’t primarily about looking like a Christian on the outside, but about the Holy Spirit transforming us into the likeness of Christ starting from the inside.

So today, as you read Galatians 5, ask yourself:

What kind of fruit is growing in my life?

Not what fruit do I wish people could see. Not what fruit do I pretend is there. But what is actually growing?

And where might God be inviting me to surrender more fully to His Spirit?

Because freedom in Christ isn’t about becoming more of ourselves.

It’s about becoming more like Jesus.

That’s the thing you see…it’s not about us, it’s about God.

Real freedom isn’t doing whatever I want. It’s being free to become who God created me to be.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for the freedom You give us. Help us not to use that freedom simply to serve ourselves , but to love and serve others. Grow Your fruit in our lives. Make us more loving, more kind, more joyful, more faithful, and more like You, in every way. In the mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.