But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Have you ever been trying to help someone look for something they have misplaced, but you didn’t know what it looked like?  You need a description if you are going to help them find it, right?  When a police officer is going to be searching for a missing person or a suspect, they need a description of that person.

So today I want to ask you a question.  If someone were looking for the fruit of the spirit, could they find that in you?  Are you the picture of love, joy, peace, patience,  kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control?  When people are less than kind to you, are you the picture of love, kindness, and gentleness?  When you go through difficult times, do others see joy and peace in you?  When someone makes you angry, do others see self-control in you?  When others are in need, do they see goodness in you?  When someone annoys you, do you exhibit patience?  You see there are many people in the world today that are looking for salvation, but have no idea what it really looks like.  They may work in jobs where it is seldom seen.  They may have been raised in a home where it was not there. Can you show them what it looks like?

As Christians we are supposed to be different.  Not because of what we wear on the outside or our outward physical appearance, but because of what we have on the inside.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we will produce the fruit of the spirit.  Whatever we are full of is what will spill out.  Matthew 12:34-35,  “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”

There is evil all around us in the world today.  No one has a problem finding evil, it’s everywhere.  But what we need is God.  What we need is goodness.  We can’t control the world, but we can control ourselves and that’s a good start.  We can be the light for those around us.  We can be that beacon that guides them safely through the dark waters into the safety of the harbor.  When I read a good book, I tell my friends about it.  When I see a good movie, I tell my friends about it.  When I find a good restaurant or a great dish on a menu, I tell my friends about it.  When I find anything really good, I tell my friends about it.  God is so good.  When you find that peace that passes all understanding and that joy that is unending, you want to tell others about it.  But let me tell you something my friend, if you are a living example of the fruit of the spirit you are telling everyone that sees you, even if you never utter a word. People are seeing something different in you.  They are seeing something good.

If you are not a Christian, then my prayer for you today is that God will put someone in your path that will light the way for you. I pray that God will connect you with someone that will help you find the love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and  self-control that comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ and from being filled with the Holy Spirit.  If you are a Christian, pay careful attention to your witness.  Pray continually and ask God to keep you filled with the Holy Spirit so that you may exhibit the fruit of the spirit to a lost and dying world.  Be the light that leads people home.

Have a great day!