The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Little Pot is a fruit-bearing vessel created by the potter. It is given the privilege of growing fruit. You can find the full story here. The allegory mirrors the relationship that we have with our creator. We are also vessels created to bear fruit. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is the substance God grows through us when we allow Him to work in our lives. The verses in Galatians describe this fruit with nine words. Therefore, each week we look at a word from the list and what Paul meant when he described this fruit to the church.

Consequently, last week, we looked at joy. In the previous week, we studied what love is. Click here to read how the Bible describes this love. In addition, click here to see how to explain love to children. This week, we are attempting to define the third word in the description, peace.

The Bible about peace

Google defines peace as a time when there is no war. Dictionaries agree and add that it can mean harmony between people and people groups. Verses in the Bible about peace take the meaning deeper.

We already know that the fruit of the Spirit Paul describes is not feelings. He explains that producing this fruit is done when we “live by the Spirit” instead of “living by the flesh.” He lists acts of the flesh in verses 19-21. These behaviors arise when we allow our feelings to control us. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise us that peace requires our actions.

fruit of the Spirit is peace

The Bible Project has a great video to explain this peace.

When peace like a river attendeth my soul

An old hymn: It is Well with My Soul, describes peace as a river. This description comes from Isaiah 66:12 and Isaiah 48:18. In these verses, Isaiah describes that God will give HIs people peace like a river. I have often thought it interesting that peace would be represented by a river instead of a calm pond. Rivers can be rough and rocky. These verses in the Bible about peace also mention “waves of righteousness” and “overflowing streams.” Therefore, Isaiah was describing a relatively large moving brook.

Likewise, if you consider that rivers connect people and continually flow over rocks through rugged terrain, you can appreciate the peace that God offers us. The peace He grows through us is something we cannot produce alone. Only through Him can our relationships be at complete peace.

Three practical ways to grow the fruit of the Spirit: peace

Want to understand how you can grow peace and the fruit of the Spirit? For example, do you find it hard to make peace with some people? While God’s Spirit grows peace, it requires our participation. Our lives should cultivate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, understanding how to become fruit-bearing vessels is a God-sized calling and one of the most important things we do as followers of Christ. Likewise, I’ve seen how God produces the fruit of the Spirit, and I’ve explained the process in seven steps. I have used these steps with children, teachers, and parents. It includes the three areas of spiritual, social, and academic growth. In these areas, you’ll learn practical things to do. Consequently, you will be a fruit-bearing vessel.

If you join me on this fruit-bearing journey, I promise we will see how God works in our lives and with others around us. Just type in your email address and name below.