Photo courtesy of John Kasawa/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
There’s a saying that goes something like, “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Hmmm…
In Galatians 5, Paul says we identify ourselves to the world by how we live, whether in the sinful nature or the nature of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of that nature is visible for all to see. It confirms our heritage, our roots.
What does the world see when it looks at us? What does it see as it watches us deal with each other as writers? Jealousy, discord, selfish ambition, and gossip announce that we’re walking in the sinful nature.
But Galatians 5:22-24 says:
. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
The Fruit of the Spirit. I’d heard that phrase all my life. I could even stand up in church and quote the verse word for word. But for years, those who knew me could look at the evidence, and it was telling a different story. It was telling of selfishness and greed and rudeness. Of pride and fear and self-centeredness. On the day I came face-to-face with the attitudes of my heart, I was shocked. I was ashamed.
Friends, the Fruit of the Spirit is not a list of nice things we should try to do. Neither is it a collection of possible gifts we may or may not have. Instead, this is God’s command to those of us who belong to Christ Jesus: to crucify the sinful nature and the evidence it produces.
Crucify is such an ugly word, but that’s exactly what we have to do. We have to kill that sinful nature with all its ugliness, and put on the image of Christ. And that includes in our writing relationships.
In other words, can we:
- Love the person who lands another fast contract when we’re still waiting for our first?
- Find joy in the midst of our poor sales?
- Claim His peace when we find another rejection in the inbox?
- Be patient with the person who doesn’t deliver what he promised?
- Be kind to the new writer who wants us to teach her in 15 minutes what it has taken us 10 years to learn?
- Demonstrate a heart of goodness by sharing our leads, our resources, and our contacts with other writers?
- Be faithful to pray for those we promised to pray for?
- Let the gentleness of our Servant-Savior, Jesus, come through our words, whether written or spoken?
- Use self-control to avoid hogging the conversation with faculty at conference meals?
There it is—the Writer’s Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit. If others can see His fruit in us, our words are more likely to bear fruit for Him.
And isn’t that why we write?
Let’s not fall far from our Tree.
(Photo courtesy of John Kasawa/FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
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I hope y’all have a great week!
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Want to Be a Master Writer?
In 1993 I deposited ten manuscript submissions into the post office bin…and mentally began spending the money. It was a no-brainer. After all, I’d written the next bestselling novel, one worthy of bidding wars and movie options. Oh my, what was I going to do when five publishers wanted my book at the same time?
Today’s guest needs no introduction for most of you. 
Yesterday my 12-year-old granddaughter and I were behind a van with this slogan painted on the back window: “Customer Service at It’s Best.” Being the good grandmother that I am 
, I pointed out the mistake and proceeded to explain why the slogan was incorrect. She didn’t want to hear my wise counsel…until I said that little apostrophe could be the difference between getting a job and not getting one, whether you want to be a writer, a teacher, or a CEO.
