Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Growing up in Gardena, California, we had an apricot tree in the backyard that never bore fruit. We assumed that something was wrong with it. It just stood there, a barren tree in our eyes.
I’ve since learned that those trees require a chill period [the necessary duration of cold temperatures (typically 32°F to 45°F) during winter dormancy that many fruit and nut trees need to break bud, flower, and produce fruit properly in the spring], something it wasn’t getting in the mild Southern California weather.
Various fruit trees have their own conditional requirements for bearing fruit:
- Apples/Pears: Most need cross-pollination; require significant chill hours.
- Peaches/Nectarines: Usually self-pollinating; lower chill hour needs than apples.
- Cherries (Sweet): Often need a pollinator; (Sour) are self-fertile.
- Figs: Generally self-fertile, fruiting on new growth.
As followers of The Way, we’re each expected to bear fruit (good works). These fruits may come through uncomfortable conditions, or odd situations along our journey. Each of us have God-ordained conditional requirements for bearing our fruit. It’s very essential that we stay in connection (prayer) with The Father and study His Word daily in order to understand what He is calling us to do, what He expects from us, and…make sure we’re in the correct location.
Shalom.