Is Your Fruit Delicious?
Is your fruit sweet? Or sour? An examination through the lens of Noah Webster
Your Fruit Might Be Showing:
The fruit, the fruit - easy to eat, but harder to produce, and I’m speaking of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God. That fruit. The fruit we are not forbidden to develop. The fruit that comes easy “on paper” - but takes loads of self-control to allow it to be cultivated in our lives. The fruit that’s listed right after the works, or the “fruit” of the flesh, which is a list almost twice as long. And those who are led by the Spirit will put off (not be led by) the works of the flesh and “put on” (be led by) the fruit of the Spirit.
And it all starts with love, God’s love. Love is the beginning, the undergirding. We cannot start with joy, we cannot start with peace, we must start with love. First comes the reception of His love, then and only then comes the outflow. So love must be our chief aim, before the rest of the fruit will follow. And not surprisingly, we spend our whole lives learning how to love, and yet we’re told, “they will know we are Christians by our love” (John 13:35 paraphrased). It is indeed a tall order.
But this is not an in-depth analysis on love; the Word has plenty to say about love and I’ll let the Holy Spirit do His work; neither is it a treatise on how to cultivate love or any of the fruit of the Spirit. Rather, it’s a simple look at the fruit of Love as a means to gauge how well we are submitting to, or operating in love. In other words, the more we are developing patience and kindness, the more God’s love is being perfected in our lives. And this, of course, requires our partnership.
And rather than look at Hebrew and Greek definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit (I’ll leave that to someone else and I’m sure it’s already been done) I thought I’d go straight to English. Admittedly, this bypasses hidden nuances and layers of meaning (for we all know the English word “love” is a catch-all” for multiple different Greek words - six to eight according to a quick google inquiry I just did) - but sometimes the simple can be sublime. And if nothing else, this is a starting place.
And the definitions I’ve recorded are not from Webster's current Dictionary; neither are they from the merged “Miriam Webster” dictionary. Rather, I’m going back to the source and here’s why: The first edition of Webster’s dictionary is imbued with a strong biblical worldview because Noah Webster was a man of strong faith who spent 25 years of his life researching and writing America's first Dictionary. I would like to say it was his life’s work, except his list of accomplishments is too long and is perhaps why he’s known as “the Father of American education.” At any rate, Webster was a forward-thinking man who recognized America had her own customs and culture apart from England and who wanted America to have her own dictionary and vocabulary rather than having a reliance on England’s Oxford dictionary.
Webster’s Dictionary was first published in 1828 and it included America’s distinct spelling of words; “theater” instead of “theatre” for instance. It also abounded with Biblical references and quotations from the King James Bible, the Bible which graced America’s homes at the time. This is why I’ve chosen to use Webster’s original definitions of the nine manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit. So let’s look at Webster's words and let it be food for thought for examination of the fruit of our lives. And (perhaps also) to see how well we’ve learned to love.
“Have you learned to Love?”
Love
The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of His attributes or His excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending Him is its inseparable effect.
Joy
The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.
Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.
A glorious triumphant state. – who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross. Hebrews 12
Peace
In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.
Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquility; calmness; quiet of conscience.
Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven
Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance.
This word is used in commanding silence or quiet; as, peace to the troubled soul.
Patience - AKA - Long-suffering
The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.
A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.
The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.
Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion. “He learnt with patience and with meekness taught.”
The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger or revenge. “His rage was kindled and his patience gone.”
Kindness
Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants, or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love.
Act of good will; beneficence; any act of benevolence which promotes the happiness or welfare of others. Charity, hospitality, attentions to the wants of others…are deemed acts of kindness, or kindnesses.
And for good measure a quick note from the “Word Wealth” Notes of my Holy Spirit Filled Life Bible: “Chrestotes” (from the Greek): “The word describes the ability to act for the welfare of those taxing your patience.” And if that isn’t enough it continues, “The Holy Spirit removes abrasive qualities from the character of one under His control.”
Goodness
The physical qualities which constitute value, excellence, or perfection
The moral qualities which constitute Christian excellence; moral virtue; religion
Kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised.
Faithfulness
Fidelity; loyalty; firm adherence to allegiance and duty
Truth; veracity; as the faithfulness of God
Strict adherence to injunctions, and to the duties of a station; as the faithfulness of servants or ministers.
Strict performance of promises, vows, or covenants; constancy in affection; as the faithfulness of a husband or wife.
Faith (the KJ word used)
Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God’s testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God’s character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to His guidance, and dependence on His merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God’s testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.
The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.
Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God. Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of His word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because He has declared them.
Gentleness
Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness
Kindness; benevolence; tenderness; mild treatment
Meekness (the KJ word used)
Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.
In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance, and refractoriness (sullen obstinacy in opposition or disobedience).
Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated (impressed or enforced by frequent admonitions), and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended.
Gentleness
Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness
Kindness; benevolence; tenderness; mild treatment
Temperance: (Self control)
Moderation; particularly habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; as temperance in eating and drinking, as opposed to gluttony and drunkenness, and in other indulgences, to excess.
Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion
This concludes Webster's definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit. If one particular fruit is highlighted to you, I encourage you to take the practical step of finding a Scripture (or two) in the Word to undergird you in that area. Read it daily, say it aloud daily, pray it daily. Here’s an example:
“Kindness” - “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
May your fruit be colorful and bountiful.