“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, wild parties, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Ephesian 5:19-23).

I like different types of fruit. Thank God, He recently gave us a new house with a backyard that has different fruit trees. I am sure you like fruit as well. We all enjoy the taste of rich and tasty fruits, don’t we? Jesus said and it is recorded in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if you are not connected to Me.” A branch to produce fruit, it has to be connected to the vine. So are you and I. Jesus said and it is recorded in verse 5 that He is the vine and you are the branches.

You see, if you are to produce magnificent fruit, you’ve to stay connected to Jesus. Fruit producing comes out of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. When I look at the fruit trees, I understand this truth. A branch is connected to the vine and then only it can produce fruits. A disconnected branch from the vine never produces fruit.

Bible gives us a list of the acts of the flesh and fruit of the Holy Spirit in today’s insight. The acts of the flesh, when we are not properly connected to the vine -Jesus Christ-are sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild parties and so forth. This is the habitual lifestyle if you do not abide or live in Jesus Christ.

Now see the next list of fruit that Holy Spirit produces in you when you live in Jesus. They are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

How about you? To me, I want to be more loving, joyful and peaceful. I want to radiate forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control from my life. I believe you want more of these things in your life, don’t you? Don’t you want to be more kind, gentle and faithful? Don’t you want to enjoy more love, joy, and peace? The question is – how do you experience and produce these fruits?

The secret is simple. Our today’s insights say abide in Jesus to enjoy and produce these wonderful fruits. Abide in Jesus means to go to Him in prayer and say to him you want to live in Him every day and all day. He loves to hear it from you. Begin to read the Bible and talk to him in prayer. Jesus loves you and He died to pay for all your sins. He paid it all to save you from your guilt and stain filled past. He paid it all to free you from the consequences of your sins. Bible says in Romans 6:23, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Upon accepting Jesus as your savior, He forgives and purifies and gives you eternal and everlasting life when you close your eyes here on this planet earth.

Beloved, you are unconditionally loved by Him. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ because He loves you, cares for you and wants to bless you with all His magnificent blessings.

Remember it is time for a change in your life. May that happen today. You want to enjoy more love, joy, and peace. You want to more kind, gentle, faithful. You want to experience self-control amid all that life throws at you. Come to Jesus. He offers the fruit that you could never buy from any other source as you abide in Him.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe in Jesus Christ. I know he died and rose again to save me. He gave away his life to save me from my sins. Please forgive my sins. I turn to you in repentance today. Lord, I am the branch and you are the vine. I want to live in you every day and all day. As I live in you, help me to enjoy and share with others all the heavenly fruit that you produce in me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray.”