Today, I went to my Church of the City small group, where we discussed last week’s sermon on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:13–26).
Galatians 5:22–23 says:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
One of the discussion questions was:
“The fruit of the Spirit is produced through union, not imitation; by beholding, not striving; and in community, not isolation. Which of these ideas challenges or encourages you most?”
I was particularly intrigued by the idea of not striving. It made me think about how easy it is to approach the Christian life as if it were a matter of performing better. Like, I need to try harder to be more loving, more joyful, more peaceful, and so on. However, I have learned that those “fruits” are produced through inner transformation, through the work of the Holy Spirit in me, and are not the outcome of my own effort.
Romans 12:2 says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The Scripture is clear enough that I am the person to be transformed, and not the person causing the transformation. God is the one who renews my mind.
And what leads to this inner transformation? From previous sermons, I learned that it is through abiding in God. It means that, like a branch connected to the vine, which is Christ, I bear fruit because I remain in Him. Being gentle, faithful, and good are not things I have to manufacture on my own. They are the natural consequences of remaining in God.
I watched a sermon a while ago by Pastor Peter Tan-Chi, and he said something that has stayed with me:
“The Christian life is not hard. It’s impossible. The Christian life is not difficult. It is supernatural.”
Let me close with a personal experience of mine. During part of my graduate studies, I had drifted away from God and found myself becoming a prodigal again. I was also struggling with a destructive habit that truly felt like bondage. Then, when I hit rock bottom early last year, I repented and turned back to God.
What happened afterward was something I couldn’t really explain. Somehow, my destructive habit no longer had the same hold on me! I no longer desired what I used to desire. Something in my heart had changed.
It wasn’t me who did the changing. God did.
I certainly tried to break that destructive habit on my own in the past, relying on my own strength, but I kept failing and failing. And now, I am completely free.
Supernatural, indeed.