The pounding of my daughter’s footsteps as she races up the stairs signals something urgent. I rush to meet her at the top of the stairs. “Mom! You HAVE to taste this!” She pants to catch her breath. Stretching out her little gardener-in-training hand, she reveals one tiny treasure. A ruby red strawberry. With eyes aglow she announces, “It’s from Ms. Lori’s garden!”

I place the gift on my tongue. My daughter, clutching her hands to her chest, bounces on her toes like Tinkerbell waiting for my response.

“Wow. This isn’t a strawberry… THIS is candy!”

Oh the sweetness of the real thing. The way it was meant to taste. Fruit IS nature’s candy!

I never liked apples until I plucked one off a tree in Michigan. I didn’t care much for blueberries until I discovered them wild on the mountains of Alaska. I still don’t like tomatoes… except… the ones from Grami’s greenhouse.

Ahhh, good fruit, grown in nutrient-rich soil, perfectly ripened on the vine…

This. Tastes. Good.

…Quite different from the artificially ripened, mass produced, chemically preserved fruits and vegetables lining the supermarket.

Now for the cringe moment…

Might I suggest a similar observation can be made about spiritual fruit? Is there such a thing as natural versus artificial fruit in the life of a Christian? Hmmm… worth considering? I only ask because I’ve had to ask myself.

---

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

---

The apostle Paul gives us this beautiful list of characteristics that should mark the life of a true believer in Christ. But what do we mistakenly do with this list? We go after the fruit rather than the Spirit.

We strive to produce externally what the Spirit intends to nurture internally. Zealous for a harvest, we try to artificially ripen our fruit. On a global scale we seek to mass produce little Christians by encouraging everyone to look, act, and do like this – as if that’s what pleases God.

And why? What makes us think this will EVER produce the kind of fruit God promises?

---

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. -Jesus, John 15:4-5

---

Two decades I’ve been walking with the Lord; that’s time enough to produce a bounty of artificial fruit – good things in the name of Jesus but minus the power of Jesus. I feel sorry for those who’ve been forced to eat my fruit when it wasn’t yet ripe. I’m sure it was bitter, sour… distasteful. Oh how I roll my eyes to think that a shiny, wax coating was enough to make this apple – me – look appealing when a simple slice into my core would’ve revealed rottenness.

Yah that stinks. But the good news is…

I’ve also experienced the miracle – yes, the miracle – of bearing good fruit, genuine fruit. The kind that somehow satisfies my own soul in its depths and also refreshes others in the midst. I want more of this kind!

There’s a vast difference between our self-disciplined, man-made fruit and that which grows naturally as we remain connected to the Vine. One is like a plastic fruit put on display for decoration which has no actual power to nourish or strengthen the body. The other is like Ms. Lori’s strawberries – so sweet… so nourishing… so rich and vibrant… so… real.

Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.

I can only speak for myself: I have no capacity to produce these fruits in my life. Not authentically anyways. Superficially maybe. For a time, possibly. But at the end of all that striving I’ll be very hungry for some recognition and admiration – because I worked hard! I laid down my life. I carried my cross. I – I – I. Me – Me – Me. Somebody better appreciate all my fruit, dang it!

Are you laughing? Please tell me you’re laughing. Not AT me but WITH me! Do you resonate? Do you find it easier to strive and produce rather than seek Christ and abide in Him? Are you guilty as I am in desiring the fruits of the Spirit more than the Spirit himself? Do you sometimes hunger for the earthly reward of praise rather than being satisfied with the eternal reward that is Jesus? If so, then it’s no accident you’re reading this blog. Would you join me in praying…

Oh God,
Help us.
You said that in the last days people would become lovers of themselves only.
That people would become boastful and proud, scoffing at you, Lord.
That people would be ungrateful, unloving and unforgiving, slandering others and having no self control.
You warned that a generation of people would arise who act religious, having a form of godliness, but that they would reject or deny the power that could truly make them godly.
Lord forgive me, forgive us, for being those people sometimes.
May we not be satisfied with our own superficial fruit but trust in You for supernatural fruit.
Help us cling to you for dear life, as a grape clings to the vine, knowing that apart from you we can do nothing.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

---

If you enjoyed this article then please share on social media and tell others about Beautifully Messed Up

Subscribe to receive new posts via email as soon as they’re published (every two weeks)! *This is a non-commercialized, advertisement-free blog. Email addresses are kept confidential.

Niki Schemanski is a wife of seventeen years and homeschooling mother of three children. A love of singing led her into an early career in performing arts at eight years old. After college Niki became a worship pastor and has been in ministry ever since. She and her family reside in Durango, Colorado. (Read More: About The Author)