Week 52: How can I be more like Jesus?
Have you memorized the nine fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 yet? Take a moment to say them together: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If you are a follower of Christ, then you can develop each of these godly qualities because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. This week’s devotion will show us how to be more like Jesus by producing more spiritual fruit.
Be ready to read the following passage:
John 15:1-8
Let’s start it.
Pretend that your family has a garden. How would you go about taking care of it so that it would produce lots of food?
Let’s learn it.
On our journey through the fruit of the Spirit, you were challenged to think of your heart as a garden and of God as the gardener. Well, we have to take care of our hearts, just as your family would take care of a garden. Let’s check out what Jesus told His disciples about that in John 15:1-5 while teaching them how to be more fruitful followers.
Jesus didn’t simply tell His disciples to be patient or kind; He told them how to do it: remain close to Him. If they stayed as close to Jesus as a branch growing out of a vine, then they would grow spiritual fruit, like patience and kindness. Let’s take a closer look at what He said. Read back over these verses and have a family member make note of each time Jesus used the word “fruit.”
Did you find phrases like: no fruit, bears fruit, more fruit, and much fruit? Dead branches can’t produce grapes – can they? When a branch doesn’t get nutrition from the vine, it grows weak, stops producing fruit, and withers. Jesus was teaching his disciples that being more like Him starts by staying close to Him.
If you’re a follower of Christ, then you have spiritual fruit as evidence of the new person you’ve become in Jesus. Although you might be happy with having just a little fruit, God wants you to be even more fruitful, so He uses the difficult things in your life to build your character so that you will grow more spiritual fruit. For example, you learn patience through situations that would naturally make you impatient.
Try to imagine an apple tree that’s bursting with apples. That’s the picture of having “much fruit” in your life. Take a look at what verses 7-8 say about that. Spending time with the Lord by reading the Bible and praying gives you the spiritual nutrition needed to produce lots of big, healthy spiritual fruit. When you listen to the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and obey what He says, you show that you’re a true follower of Jesus Christ. You become more like Him!
Let’s discuss it.
- Which fruits of the Spirit are most evident in each of your lives?
- Which fruit of the Spirit has God developed in your life by allowing a challenge or difficulty of some kind?
Let’s do it.
Come up with a plan for members of your family to remain close to Jesus each day. Write down the specific steps, such as setting a time to have a daily devotion and memorizing Bible verses. Write your ideas on index cards or sticky notes and post them in a place where everyone can see them. Remember, only the Holy Spirit can produce genuine spiritual fruit, helping you to become more like Christ. As you listen to and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, godly qualities will begin to grow in your life. Before you know it, you’ll develop more fruit … and even much fruit!