How to be a Spiritual Gardener

What in the world is a spiritual gardener?

There are allusions to nature throughout scripture. In an oft quoted passage in Galatians, we read of the fruit of the Spirit. But that is not the most important thing in that passage. I live in a part of the world where I am surrounded by orchards with a huge variety of fruit growing. Right now, the orange trees are bursting with ripe oranges. Harvest is underway.

One thing I have observed. Fruit trees don’t strain to produce fruit. It is part of the nature of what they are. A farmer doesn’t plant fruit, he plants trees knowing they will produce fruit. So where does that leave us in considering the fruit of the Spirit. What do we have to do to become a spiritual gardener, to plant trees that yield spiritual fruit?

Understanding context is essential to understanding God’s Word. So, in order to understand how we get to spiritual fruit, we must understand the context. It is in this context that we learn how to be a spiritual gardener!

The fruit of the Spirit is listed in a passage that begins with “walk by the Spirit” and is followed by “If we live  by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit – that’s Galatians 5:16 and 25 from the English Standard Version.

It makes perfect sense that if we are to bear the fruit of the Spirit, then, walking and keeping in step with the Spirit are key. So rather than strive to produce the fruit of the Spirit through effort or even prayer, we should be doing all we can to walk by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit. This is a simplified answer to the question of how to be a spiritual gardener. Let’s break it down.

First things first

We cannot walk by the Spirit if we are not fully submissive to the Spirit of God. In his book to the Romans, Paul is quite explicit about where we must start.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 (ESV)

This is a complete surrender of your life to God. When we belong to Christ, we have all of the Spirit of God within us. When we surrender completely, God has all of us. Notice Paul’s injunction to surrender is addressed to fellow believers!

What then?

Walking implies movement, it also is used to signify a life being lived. So we must live and move with the Spirit of God. Several essential activities make this possible.

Prayer

We must spend time talking to God. We must converse with his Spirit that is within us. Wouldn’t it be rude to be with God all the time only to give him the ‘silent treatment’? Prayer must be intentional and continual. It is vitally important to set aside time with God where he has your exclusive attention. It is also important to spend time talking to him throughout the day.

Bible reading

The Bible is God’s Word or, we could say, God’s Words! This is him speaking to us. The more we learn about him, the easier it is to keep in step with the Spirit. Everyday Bible reading is a must for living by the Spirit.

Worship

When we gather to worship, God manifests himself in our midst. We receive encouragement, nurture, love and joy together. Sharing these things are part of being in step with the Spirit. It is a foretaste of heaven!

Serve

When we serve one another with spiritual gifts, we discover the fruit of the Spirit ripening in our lives. This is how God works. This is the work of a spiritual gardener!

Obedience

Do I even need to say this? Clearly walking in step with the Spirit is a life of obedience. It starts with doing the things you know God would have you do and avoiding the things you know would displease him. As you grow spiritually, you will discover more of God’s will and it will be easier to discern God’s will for any situation you find yourself in.

Finally

Here are a few words in the heart of the passage about living by the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:18–24 (ESV)

Will you be a spiritual gardener?

The path is before you. When you decide to walk by the Spirit, you will bear all that wonderful fruit. Here is that fruit, once again: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. No matter how you look at it, there is nothing here that does not enhance your life. Producing the fruit of the Spirit is experiencing all the best God has to offer you and is the product of a rich and glorious walk with Jesus!

Now, it’s your move. What will it be?