“I feel sick,” a little girl said to her mother.
“Sweetheart, you don’t look sick,” the mother replied.
To which the daughter responded, “Mama, you can’t see sick!”
But, apparently, you can. Why else would the doctor say, “Stick out your tongue”?
Not only can people “see sick,” they can “see Christian.” Others looking at the quality of our lives can tell if we are Christians.
In Galatians 5, Paul writes about the “fruit of the Spirit.” Fruit on trees can be seen. So can the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of God’s people.
You will notice that Paul’s list of “fruit” begins with
love. People see love. Jesus said so. “By this shall all men know you are my
disciples, if you love one another” (John
Next in his list, Paul names joy. Joy is observable. When we are filled with joy, it shows on our faces, in our behavior, or in our energy. The common stereotype and spectacle of sad-looking Christians with scowling faces contradicts Paul’s teaching that the Spirit produces observable fruit readily recognizable as joy. (I find nothing innately reverent or holy about a stern look, do you?)
Then there’s peace. Yes, we can see peace in others, but often peace is best observed by what is not seen. Anger, hostility, and anxiety are noticeably missing in the lives of those whose lives are instead filled with peace.
In his list of fruits, Paul goes on to name patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Each one is observable. We can see them in others. They can see them in us.
Need to check your health? Stick out your tongue! Need to check your spiritual health? Did words of love roll off your tongue today? Any words of peace? What did you say last week that communicated joy, patience, gentleness, or kindness?
Thank God for the fruit of his Spirit, and for his great mercy that allows it to grow abundantly in our lives.