The fruit of the Spirit is not a fruit that we eat, it's a fruit that grows inside of us! When we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us to make us more like him. This means that we start growing the fruit of the Spirit - fruit like patience, kindness and goodness - which is the good fruit that God wants us to have in our lives. This fruit shows that we love God, and it helps us to show his love to others. Let's check out one of the fruits of the Spirit now!
PATIENCE
When we have patience we are prepared to wait without getting annoyed or angry. Often we want to be first and to please ourselves but God wants us to think about others and put them first instead of ourselves. When we do this we will be showing God's love to others. Let's check out a Bible story to help us understand more about the fruit of patience:
In this true Bible story Abraham and Sarah needed to be very patient as they waited for God to give them the baby he had promised. They waited for a very long time so it wasn't easy. Sometimes they weren't patient at all. But God always keeps his promises and little baby Isaac was born even though Sarah was very old.
-
When do you like to be first?
-
Is it hard to wait your turn when you want to be first?
When you wait patiently for your turn without pushing in, this shows that the fruit of patience is in you! When you have to wait until after dinner to eat your sweets and don't complain; or when you wait calmly for your brother or sister to finish speaking before you speak, you are showing the fruit of patience. It's difficult when we naturally want to have our own way but the more we practice the fruits of the Spirit, the more they grow in us! God wants us to put others before ourselves and when we are patient, we are doing this by showing God's love to them.
Dear Lord, Thank you that when I follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit works in me to grow lots of good fruit. Thank you for the fruit of patience. Please help me to be patient and wait my turn, so that I can please you and show your love to others. Amen.
