TASTY

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

Do you love someone? That is precious because there is a great chance love will return to you. 

Do you experience joy at times? Believing you do, cherish those times for they can bring a smile to your face later by remembering them and possibly be recreated. 

Do you know peace or is there no peace in your life? A calm, steady assurance of who you are makes all the difference in living in this world. 

Do you instill Forbearance or long-suffering or tolerance over things for a long time in others? This is a kind of patience that goes above and beyond the call of duty. I find there is usually a nice reward that comes from with-holding some thoughts, words and actions at times.

Do you see your kindness paid off and appreciated? There is nothing like seeing your efforts go the distance and perhaps receiving a pat on the back occasionally for your gesture. 

Do you find you have a good heart that matches up with good deeds and blesses others? If you are this type of person then I believe blessings will follow you. For the rest of us who may find this a challenge, remember, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." - James 4:17

Can people feel the impact of your faithfulness? When good managers and leaders recognize that their group or organization is running like a well oiled machine, I like to believe they look for the cause. Some supervisors that experience success because of your dependability are gracious enough to verbally, publicly and monetarily reward you.

Do people feel the effects, later on in their day or life, of a gentle touch or approach you imparted? We would do well to remember the wise words written in Proverbs 15:1? "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Our decisions over our words and thoughts are met on the battlefield of the mind. That battle needs to be already won by the Holy Spirit everyday before the word "Go" so that "a gentle answer" can be distributed, not a sarcastic one.

Do others see and feel the restraint you make at times when you desire to strike somebody with words or actions? Again, I return to a wise Proverb - "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:21 Choose wisely your words and actions. This calls for thinking before speaking and action. In this thinking process, include the Holy Spirit as your filter and Counselor and you will be protected from stupidity.

As you can see, having the Fruits of the Spirit of God in your life is commendable. To be able to see your love in others, joy in others, peace in others, long-suffering in and for others, kindness in and for others, goodness in and for others, faithfulness toward God and others, gentleness in others lives and self-control in others - is a huge indication that you desire to operate out of the Fruits of God's Spirit.

However, to have others display a resemblance or reaction to words and/or actions you might have said that meet all the traits of Galatians 5:22-23 is just one part of the equation. The other vital part is the complete transformation of our character to those traits or Fruits. So, instead of knowing that you are capable of love because you love at least one person, you now are a loving person, allowing God's Love for all to flow through you. Likewise, you become a joyous person, a peaceful person, a highly tolerant individual, a kind soul, a good human being, a faithful man/woman, a gentle spirit, a person of self-control. Observing these Fruits in others is wonderful and promising, but owning them as a major part of who you are makes you more usable of God and to the rest of us - Tasty.