In the last blog on the fruit of the Spirit, we covered tomatoes 1 and 2 – Love and Joy. Today’s blog we look at 3 tomatoes – peace, longsuffering, and gentleness. There isn’t a rotten tomato in the bunch. Have you seen the ROTTEN TOMATO ranking? They rank how terrible a movie or tv show is by the number of rotten tomatoes assigned. While this list has some difficult fruit none are rotten, and if you attempt to grow them yourself the result will not last. With the Spirit, we know all things are possible.
I read somewhere two of the most popular names for girls when the church was beginning in Acts were the Greek names Chara (Cara) and Eirene (Irene). The English form of those names are Joy and Peace respectively. I love that, don’t you? New Christians being persecuted chose to name their baby girls Joy and Peace. How can you have joy and peace when you are being persecuted for your belief? For one, be Spirit-filled like the new believers. Some had experienced Pentecost. Some had heard from those who witness Pentecost first hand. When people spoke about their faith, there was passion.
So are you ready to slice up some peace, longsuffering and gentleness tomatoes?
TOMATO 3 -- Peace
The older I get or should I say the more mature I become the more I crave peace…actually peace and quiet. It’s a rarity in a house with a senior in high school and an ADHD teenage son who will be blessed to make 14 at the end of August. Plus, add 2 dogs and a husband, and the only way there is peace and quiet is if they have left the house or they are all asleep. Can anyone relate?
And while I may not get peace AND quiet, I can still have peace and be at peace even when the kids are arguing, dogs are barking and my husband can’t find his wallet or phone. So what is peace? The Greek is Eirene, sounds like serene to me. Peace is tranquility with security. Tranquility WITH security in Christ.
Where joy is the loudest fruit of the Spirit, peace is actually described more as a way or a path. It’s a way of life. Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Romans 3:17 And the way of peace they have not known. Galatians 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon Israel of God.
A pathway of peace means it’s a lifestyle practiced every day. My favorite verse regarding peace is 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. God does not intend for our life to be ruled by confusion but by the peace that the Spirit gives. How peaceful is your walk?
Tomato 4 -- Longsuffering
The next tomato really doesn’t have a lot of content. It’s longsuffering. Some people think longsuffering is patience, and they would be partially correct. Longsuffering is patience in the face of conflict or an adversary. Let that sink in for a moment…Patience in the face of conflict or an adversary.
The word patience has a different Greek word than longsuffering. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be in season in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. When should you be longsuffering? In season and out of season…are there any other seasons? And when is longsuffering to be displayed – when reproving, rebuking and exhorting. Does this sound like a verse you might know? What is the Word of God good for? 2 Timothy 3:16-17. You can't be longsuffering without the Word of God.
If there is ever a time you do NOT need to be acting or speaking in the flesh, it’s when you are reproving and rebuking someone. The words that come out of your mouth need to be the ones the Spirit puts there. Otherwise, you can do terrible harm, and the goal is to return the wayward Christian to a right relationship with God. Longsuffering should lead to restoration.
Truth is, you shouldn’t be butting your nose into everyone’s business either. You should address the things the Spirit leads you to address. If you’re a busybody, you are part of the problem because you are also a gossiper and have no useful function within the body of believers. Cut it out!
TOMATO 5 - Gentleness.
When you think of gentleness, what physical picture comes to mind? Maybe the way a mom holds a newborn? Maybe the way you hold something delicate? And while those are great pictures of the word gentleness, in Scripture it means moral goodness with integrity or moral excellence.
Romans 2:4 Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forebearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Being in the presence of God’s moral excellence, His gentleness is what causes us to repent. In Isaiah 6:1-5, Isaiah is in the presence of God Almighty with 6 seraphim singing Holy, holy, holy. Their singing was so loud it shook the doorframe. The beauty Isaiah saw and the worship he experienced and the gentleness of God led him to repent.
God’s example of gentleness is to be what you display as well. This fruit draws people to God, convicts, restores and can lead them to salvation, and isn’t that the ultimate goal of the Spirit working in us is that others may see Christ in you? Don’t you want those around us to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Then it’s time to let the Spirit do His work and produce fruit in your life.