“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” – Philippians 1:11
In Galatians, the apostle Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Here in the first chapter of Philippians, Paul is praying for his fellow believers that they would have this manifestation of the Spirit in their lives. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” (Philippians 1:9).
These fruits of righteousness come only from the Holy Spirit of God, and is that for which we should strive to show the world. It is only through our lives and actions that the world will see Jesus. In the presence of hate, we show love; in the midst of sorrow and pain, we radiate the joy of the Lord; in times of confusion and chaos, we display the peace of God in our lives, and so on. It is our calling as the children of God to live a life that testifies of Christ in all we say or do regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
Paul was in a prison, yet he did not lament his situation. He continued to do the work of God with a positive attitude. He lived what he taught to the Philippians. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). It is believed that Paul wrote this and many other books of the New Testament while he was in prison in either Rome or Ephesus. He had endured shipwrecks, scourging, imprisonment, rejection and abandonment, yet he was able to pen Philippians 4:11 through the power of God’s Spirit working in him.
Regardless of the situations that surround us, we, too, must be about the Father’s work just as Jesus did during His time on earth. We are called to show the world the Savior through the fruits of righteousness, which are only manifest in those who have trusted Christ for their forgiveness of sins and made Him Lord of their lives. Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer, and the fruits of righteousness, which are all packaged nicely in one “fruit” (Galatians 5:22) are available for us to use as we share the gospel. It is only through the empowerment of God’s Spirit in our lives that we can show Jesus to a lost and dying world. As we grow more and more in the knowledge of the Lord and dedicate ourselves to Him, may the “fruits of righteousness” in our lives be an undeniable affirmation of the reality of the Saviour.
‘Cause you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.
And you’re the only words of life some will ever read.
So let them see in you the One in Whom is all they’ll ever need.
‘Cause you’re the only Jesus some will ever see.
(from “You’re the Only Jesus” by Gordon Jensen)
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
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May I reflect Jesus to the world as I follow in His footsteps.