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Growing the Fruit of the Spirit

Author: Christopher J.H. Wright

If you are living in God and God is living in you that relationship should be tangible in your life: in how you act and react, in what you do and in what you say, in how you treat others and how you respond to the world. The Christian lifestyle is supposed to be one set apart, one dedicated to God’s will, showcasing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul lays out all this evidence of a life in Christ in Galatians 5:22-23, calling Christ-like actions the fruit of the spirit. A healthy plum tree will grow and bear plums. A healthy Christian will likewise grow in his or her relationship with God and bear spiritual fruits. But how do we understand these fruits of the spirit? How do we identify them, how do we see them spread across the Bible, and how do we cultivate them ourselves?

Christopher J.H. Wright’s book, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, starts with an explanation. He explains how through faith, we are saved by God, but that we are not excused from taking an active part in spiritual growth. From there, Wright lays the groundwork, describing the nature of the Holy Spirit and how our relationship with Him is evidenced by the fruit we bear. Works do not save us; works point to the fact that we are saved.

And thus begins the exegesis. Each of the fruits of the spirit enumerated by Paul gets a full chapter. Wright does not rely on personal experience or stories of people he knows. Instead, he goes straight to the Bible. For example, when he breaks down the fruit of gentleness (which in no way can be equated to weakness), he first defines it and then shows where God utilizes gentleness in the Old Testament, where Jesus showcases gentleness throughout his ministry, and how Christians should make gentleness a way of life. By pointing to the Biblical text, Wright makes a strong case for his understanding of each fruit. He follows his definitions and in-depth Biblical study with questions at the end of each chapter and links to videos of mini sermons where he further explains the fruit.

Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is powerful in its solid Biblical placement. Everything is backed up with verses, including references to the Old Testament. After Wright has helped us truly understand the spiritual truth, what it says about God and His character, and how God himself engenders the fruit, Wright takes it home by showing us how we can see the fruit in ourselves and seek to cultivate it. This gives the text an uplifting premise as well as a powerful call-to-action.

Many of us move rapidly through Paul’s verse, nodding our heads. Yes, yes, of course we understand love and joy and faithfulness and all that. But do we really? Do we understand the fruit of joy, for example, when life is bad or full of heartache? Do we truly understand joy or are we merely thinking of temporal happiness instead of something far different and more sustainable (and sustaining)? Do we really understand patience and kindness and goodness, and the other items Paul mentions? In our daily lives, do we practice what we preach? I admit, I don’t. As Wright dives into each spiritual fruit, readers can feel the Holy Spirit inside them starting to blossom – a tree that has been fed and watered – and we can see how these are not just Hallmark pleasantries, but real fruits that are obtainable and exemplified in the life of Christ and the character of God.

As such, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit is a powerful book, both for new beginners and those who consider themselves more advanced. These are central concepts that are crucial, no matter where you are in our relationship with God. The fruits of the spirit should always be tended, and I can see myself returning to this book, again and again, always learning something new and recalling how I can better cultivate these fruits myself. Highly recommended.

 

– Frances Carden

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Frances Carden
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