Definition of the Beatitudes and How to Fulfill the Fruit of the Spirit

There is more to the definition of the Beatitudes than you might think. By sharing lessons, activities, and children’s books, we’ve found ways to explain better and teach the Beatitudes. Or, as Little Pot refers to them, The Bee Attitudes. Here’s a video reviewing our definition of the Beatitudes.

Reflecting on the past eight weeks and each lesson, I’ve discovered a powerful connection between the Beatitudes and Little Pot’s fruit-bearing process. I did not expect to write another post about the Beatitudes. However, as I finished making the video above, I realized that within the definition of the Beatitudes, Jesus presented them in a significant order. Their arrangement aligns remarkably well with how the Holy Spirit produces His fruit through us.

To review …

This summer, we’ve shared eight lessons to help explain the definition of the Beatitudes. You can click on each to read that specific lesson.

Little Pot’s fruit-bearing journey

We’ve also referred to Little Pot’s fruit-bearing journey. How the Potter produces fruit inside Little Pot connects to how God cultivates the fruit of the Spirit in us. You can sign up to learn more about that process here:

Or you can read about each step of the fruit-bearing cycle by clicking on the steps below.

In this article, I will connect how the definition of the Beatitudes connects to the steps in the fruit-bearing cycle. I was amazed to see their similarities and how the order Jesus gave them was intentional.

Little Pot shares the definition of the Beatitudes and how the ir order follows the fruit-bearing process. — Growing the fruit of the Spirit follows the same order as the Beatitudes.

Step 1. Poor in spirit, Mourning, and Containing Humility

The video above touches on this idea. It occurred to me, however, that Jesus may have had a reason for putting this as the first blessing. If you follow Little Pot’s fruit-bearing process, you know it begins with the Humus soil and the idea that we are to be humble. This idea is significant in how we are to receive and follow Christ. I’ve spent much time sharing the plan of salvation with children, and I often see kids want to be “saved” for prideful reasons.

I’ll admit that when I was six, I said “the sinner’s prayer,” hoping to earn a prize from the treasure box in Sunday School. Consequently, I was not saved that day. Several years later, God humbled me, and I realized how much I needed Him in my life. Humus is dirt that includes manure and dead things. Likewise, being humble or poor in spirit can feel like sh*t💩. It also can only happen when we die to ourselves. You can read more about those connections in this lesson with Little Pot.

Step 2. Mourning Leads to Planting God’s Word

Within Little Pot’s Humus soil, a seed is planted. The seed represents God’s Word (See Luke 8:11). Similarly, we should plant God’s word in our humble hearts. You can read more about this connection here.

In our humility, we become aware of our sins. This leads to mourning. God’s word explains and comforts our mourning. As Romans 7:24 reads, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life dominated by sin and death?” This leads us to be comforted by Christ because He is the only one who can free us from our sins. See Romans 7:25.

Definition of the Beatitudes: Meekness, Obedience, and Integrity

The third step for Little Pot is that a straight and upright stem grows. That stem symbolizes our integrity because Proverbs describes a person of integrity as “straight” and “upright.” Here is the link explaining this connection. In addition, good integrity involves an attitude of meekness and obedience. Essentially, the next Beatitude, Blessed are the meek, is all about obedience. Once we are humble and begin to study God’s Word, the next step is to obey it.

Step 4. A Hunger and Thirst for Right Relationships Full of Mercy

The following two Beatitudes are to hunger, thirst for righteousness, and be merciful. Interestingly, the next step in Little Pot’s fruit-bearing cycle is when the stem produces leaves. We’ve taught that the leaves represent healthy relationships because, like a leaf using light to feed the plant (Photosynthesis), a friend should “feed” you with the light of Christ. The idea that leaves hunger and thirst for light and water is how we need to be when seeking righteousness. Also, showing mercy is what a good friend does.

As I thought about the order of the Beatitudes, I noticed that once we are humble, sorry for our sins, and obedient to God’s Word, the following practical idea would be to seek righteousness and show mercy to others.

Definition of the Beatitudes and a Pure Heart that Blooms Knowledge

Moving on, Little Pot blooms a flower. The flower represents how we bloom knowledge. Read about that step here. Eventually, that flower will turn to fruit. But first, let’s consider what knowledge will help sprout the fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit. Because, frankly, at this point, Little Pot could still produce bad fruit.

Similarly, we can produce the fruit of envy, jealousy, or strife if we do not keep our hearts and minds pure. That’s why the next Beatitude, “Blessed are the Pure in Heart,” connects to this step of the fruit-bearing process. There is a great deal of knowledge to learn in our world. However, if we approach gaining new information apart from our faith in God, that new knowledge can produce sin instead of the fruit of the Spirit.

a comparison between the beatitudes and how the Holy Spirit produces his fruit in us. — The Beatitudes line up perfectly with how the fruit of the Spirit can be grown through us.

Making Peace

The next Beatitude is “Blessed are the Peacemakers”. Peace is found within the fruit of the Spirit. Therefore, making peace is equivalent to Little Pot’s next step when the flower turns into a fruit. We sometimes think of the fruit of the Spirit as nine different fruits. However, the nine characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are intertwined. In other words, if we are peacemakers, we also produce the other eight qualities.

The final Beatitude is about being persecuted when we do what is right and live as fruit-bearers. It makes sense that this is the final Beatitude because to withstand persecution, we need to be able to grow the fruit of the Spirit consistently. In future posts, we will learn more about how to withstand persecution as a fruit-bearing vessel. Please consider following this blog and signing up below for a copy of the Beatitude Song and the seven steps to becoming a fruit pot. Doing so will add you to our email list, and each week, you’ll receive a short, fruitful Friday email from Little Pot. In conclusion, comment and let me know if you learned a lot from Little Pot in this post.

A Song about the Definition of the Beatitudes.

The song that Little Pot sings in the video above will help you to remember and learn the 8 Beatitudes. You can download a free copy of the music. Each line matches a Beatitude within the Biblical text. You will also be added to our Fruitful Friday email list so you can continue to … “Learn a lot from Little Pot!”

Growing Fruit of the Spirit

We can be a peacemaker when the Holy Spirit grows peace through us. Little Pot discovers that it is a vessel created to be a fruit pot. Little Pot’s fruit-bearing cycle explains more. Add your first name and email below, and we’ll send you the seven steps to growing the fruit of the Spirit. You will also be added to our Fruitful Friday email list so you can continue to … “Learn a lot from Little Pot!”

what is fruit of the spirit — Learn how the Potter grows the fruit of the Spirit through you.

Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.