Walking in the Spirit
The Rotten Fruit Reality
I love fruit—especially the tropical kind like rambutan. Sweet, juicy, a little weird-looking—but when it’s good, it’s really good. But bite into a bad one? It’s mushy, slimy, and just plain awful. No one wants that. And the same can be said about the “fruit” of our lives. If we’re not walking in the Spirit, what shows up in our attitudes and actions can go bad fast.
A Daily Refill
Ephesians 5:18 reminds us to “be filled with the Spirit,” but that phrase isn’t about a one-time experience. In the original language, it means to keep on being filled—like fueling a car that runs out over time. Being filled with the Spirit is a continual need, not a past memory. You can’t rely on yesterday’s fuel for today’s journey.
It Starts in the Mind
Romans 8 shows us that walking in the Spirit is actually a mindset. Paul says that if we’re not thinking spiritually, we won’t walk spiritually. You can know all the right rules or even read all the right Scriptures, but it’s the Spirit—not rules—that transforms us from the inside out.
Learning to Walk
Walking in the Spirit isn’t automatic. It’s like watching a toddler take their first steps: they wobble, fall, cry, get back up, and try again. Eventually, walking becomes natural—but only because they kept practicing. We too must learn to walk in the Spirit and keep choosing it daily, not just on Sundays.
Signs You’re Walking Right
Paul makes it clear in Galatians 5: when we walk in the Spirit, our lives begin to change. We stop being led by the flesh—our sinful desires—and start seeing different things come out of us. But when we let our old selves take control, things like jealousy, rage, and selfishness show up. Yuck, right?
Fruit and Gifts—Spirit Style
The Spirit equips us with gifts (like those listed in 1 Corinthians 12) to serve others, and He also produces fruit in our lives. Galatians 5 lists that fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is one fruit with many traits—not optional pick-and-choose qualities. And it’s always for the benefit of others.
Stay Connected to the Tree
Just like fruit is tied to a tree, we’re called to stay connected to the Spirit. Fruit doesn’t work to be more “fruity.” It grows naturally when it’s attached to a healthy tree. In the same way, we bear spiritual fruit when we stay close to the Vine—Jesus (John 15:5-8). Apart from Him, we can’t produce anything that lasts.
A Lifestyle, Not a Checklist
Walking in the Spirit isn’t about performing or pretending—it’s a lifestyle of daily connection with God. When we walk in step with Him, our character transforms, our relationships deepen, and our lives reflect His love. But when we walk backward or try to “look good” while spiritually rotting inside, it’s like offering moldy fruit to the world. Let’s choose the real thing. Let’s walk in the Spirit.