Wildflowers at Manchester Beach State Park, California
Last week, we talked about how good trees bear good fruit. One of the interesting things is that God, too, produces fruit. Of course, He is behind the trees bearing their fruit in season here on earth (Jeremiah 5:24). But He also displays the fruit of who He is, so that we can see His nature through the things He does.
The Hidden Lakes Peaks from the Hidden Lake Lookout, North Cascades National Park, Washington
Galatians 5:22-23 speaks about the fruit of the Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we see these at work, we know that God is very likely behind the actions and motives that produced the good fruit.
Wildflowers along the Cracker Lake Trail in Glacier National Park, Montana
One of the joys of going out in God’s creation is that we get to see some of the fruit of the Spirit in the wild things. Love – God’s love is revealed in, for one thing, His attention to the detail of each plant and animal. Joy and peace – seeing the beauty brings us joy and lures us into peacefulness. And have you ever seen the joyous dance of birds in flight or the happy birdcalls in spring? Patience – have you ever watched a bird build its nest with such patience and carefulness, then wait patiently on the nest for the eggs to hatch?
A bald eagle in a tree above Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
Kindness – God gives us His own kindness in showing us beauty, in bringing the crops to harvest in their season; in His mercifulness to not destroy completely even when the fallen world reveals its fallenness. Goodness – it’s not hard to see that God created the plants, trees, rock formations, mountains, canyons, etc. very well. Faithfulness – the streams keep flowing through the year; God hasn’t given up on the things He created, despite their fallen nature.
Waterfall deep in the Zion Narrows, Utah
Gentleness – there’s a tenderness and gentleness in the intricate details of a flower that may be here today and gone tomorrow, not to mention the tender care some animals give their young. Self-control – nature itself waits with self-control until the season for change.
Trail in the Willowwood Arboretum, New Jersey
There are so many other ways to see the fruit of the Spirit in the things God has created. If we ever doubted the good qualities of God, we only have to look at His creation to be reminded, again, that He truly is the giver of good things (James 1:17).
