Day 1

In Step with the Spirit

from the The Fruit of the Spirit reading plan


Galatians 5:16-26, John 14:15-17, John 15:1-15

BY Patti Sauls

One tomato. I had grand plans for our backyard garden, but all I got to show for hours of watering and weeding was one, tiny, red tomato. I wish I could wax eloquent about the satisfaction of eating the fruit of my labors. (Fun fact: Tomatoes are botanically classified as fruit.) Instead, my lone tomato humbled me as I admitted that my efforts weren’t enough to produce abundant fruit. 

Today’s reading reveals garden rhythms as well. On the night before He was arrested, Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1). Jesus comforted His friends by reminding them that God vigilantly tends to all of His creation. 

Jesus’s encouragement continued as He described branches, which grew from the vine and produced fruit. These branches, representing His followers, would be healthy and fruitful as long as they were connected to the vine. “Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

The apostle Paul further described this spiritual fruit, explaining that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). These qualities shine collectively like the facets of a sparkling diamond. Together, they illuminate a Christian’s growing inner posture of dependence and obedience toward God, as well as her outer impact on the people and world around her. To this nourishing fruit I say, “Yes, please!”

But how do we produce such fruit? Do I summon my will power and attempt to weed out my sinful nature that so quickly yields hate, jealousy, selfishness, and worse? (Galatians 5:19–21). I may try, but as soon as I pull up one ugly weed, others sprout up in its place. This scramble ends with the same result as my backyard garden—little fruit and lots of awareness of my inability to produce it.

Are we sentenced to fruitless despair? No, we are given a resource that Jesus announces and seals with a promise: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16). What deep relief! God doesn’t intend for us to muster up spiritual growth on our own. Instead, the Holy Spirit is poured out on us to work in us. 

Although we are dependent on the Spirit to produce fruit, we are not passive. As a sunflower turns its head to seek out the sun, so we can orient our lives toward God through prayer, Bible study, repentance, praise, and other habits. As Paul said, “If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We are free to put one foot in front of the other, confidently seeking faithful obedience while resting and remaining in the promise that God fuels our movement by His Spirit at work in and through us.

Post Comments (290)

290 thoughts on "In Step with the Spirit"

  1. Anne Meluch says:

    I will pray for you!

  2. Mihut Adalia says:

    I need amd accept the Holly Spirit to come and guide me
    So I may not be a weak branch and fall apart frome the vine. Lord, keep me close and help me be connected to the Vine, wich is Jesus Christ
    Amen

  3. Quincy Wambui says:

    I accept the holy spirit to live in me and guide me every day of my life. Amen.

  4. Glenda Humphrey says:

    I just happened to read this on a warm sunshiny day. It is 62 degrees. I think of my own tomatoe plants last summer around my own very small garden. Thankfully I had lots of tomatoes but to share with others. Mainly they were the little cherry tomatoes, not so many of the larger slicing tomatoes. This is how I see Christian growth sometimes, we grow very fast in the beginning and change alot of little things, but the big things take time just like the bigger tomatoes to mature.

  5. Chelsi Hamilton says:

    Lord; fill me with your spirit so I will produce righteous fruit. Amen.

  6. Chassidy Hilton says:

    I needed this message this morning. I can’t do this alone, just like a branch needs a vine to produce any fruits. Thank you God, I hear you.

  7. Sheyla Knigge says:

    This is exactly what I needed to read as I rededicate myself to the teachings of Christ

  8. Ke’Tora Smith says:

    Looking forward to growing my faith with God. I will seek Him, knowing that He will add to me. Thankful for this lesson, God is good & He is working.

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