How do I get some?

tree bearing fruit.. but also walking... Ent

A tree does not eat its own fruit

We keep trying to put limits on love. Who is our neighbor? Who is my brother?

Fruit must grow out of life, unfolding, the Spirit produces living fruit, and that fruit has the seed in it for more fruit. Love begets more love.

Do trees really produce fruit without effort? Or are they working to draw up water and life from the soil, soaking in the sun?

Before and after this fruit passage, v. 16 and 25, we here "walk by the Spirit... if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." and 6:8b "the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."

That fruit appears as we walk by, and keep in step with, the Spirit of God

If only we had some examples:

The Great Commandments

Right off the bat, we see there is some doing aspect to love. It is a command. It is the command. We call these the Great Commandments, and we know Paul makes the connection, because right here in Galatians 5 Spirit, he echoes Jesus in saying the whole law is summed up in these words: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Of course, the whole thing is "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself..." but it was that last part the Galatians were struggling with.

The Good Samaritan

The President of the Conference walks by... the Executive Secretary of the Conference walks by... the regular SDB attendee walks by...

The Pastor of the church walks by... the chairman of the deacons walks by (Damian, how could you?)... the Head Trustee walks by (shame, shame, Levi)...

and the really annoying guy from work, the one who thinks your faith is stupid and your church is a waste of time, the one you never eat lunch with or say hi to... he stops and serves you. He loves you.

The Life of Jesus

We keep trying to put limits on love