How much would you be willing to pay for a piece of fruit? In
Japan, someone paid more than $6,000 for one Densuke watermelon.
Grown only on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, this
beautiful dark-green sphere looks like a bowling ball. The
nearly 18-pound watermelon was one of only a few thousand
available that year. The fruit’s rarity brought an astronomical
price on the market.
Christians have fruit that is far more precious than the Densuke
watermelon. It’s called the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). Each “fruit” is a
different aspect of Christlikeness. In the Gospels, we see how
Christ exemplified these virtues. Now He wants to produce them
in our hearts—in what we say, how we think, and how we respond
to life (John 15:1-4).
A rare and delicious fruit may bring a premium price in the
marketplace, but Christlike character is of far greater worth.
As we confess all known sin and yield to God’s indwelling
Spirit, our lives will be transformed to the likeness of Christ
(1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:18). This spiritual fruit will fill our
lives with joy, bless those around us, and last into
eternity. — Dennis
Fisher
Think not alone of outward form;
Its beauty will depart;
But cultivate the Spirit’s fruits
That grow within the heart. —D. De Haan
Fruitfulness for Christ depends on fellowship with Christ.