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Devotion 3: Cultivating the Character of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)

In contrast to the "works" of the flesh, the Holy Spirit produces "fruit." This distinction is vital because fruit is not something manufactured by human effort; it is a character that grows naturally from the Spirit’s presence within a believer. There is one fruit, yet it manifests in nine distinct expressions that reflect the character of Christ.

The Three Dimensions of Fruit. The expressions of the Spirit's work can be organized into three specific categories:

  • Inward Fruit: This includes love, joy, and peace, which stabilize the inner soul.
  • Outward Fruit: This is seen in our interactions through gentleness, goodness, meekness, and temperance.
  • Upward Fruit: This is defined by our faithfulness toward God.

Beyond the Law. These qualities are unique because they cannot be produced by following rules, exercising discipline, or applying human effort alone. While the law is useful for restraining sin, it is entirely incapable of producing righteousness. The law has no authority over a life led by the Spirit because the Spirit accomplishes what the law could only demand. When we allow the Spirit to lead, the result is a Christlike character that flows from the inside out. The flesh may produce corruption, and the law may produce condemnation, but the Spirit alone produces the life of Christ within us.

The Christian life is not about trying harder, but about yielding deeper. When the Spirit is allowed to lead, Christ’s life is not merely imitated; it is manifested.