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THE PAWPAW TREE BEHIND MY HOUSE

Sunday Devotion, 25th May 2025

But the fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness... (Gal 5:22). 

I always recall a papaya tree behind my house that thrived for three years, seven years ago, delighting me with its healthy fruits. It would yield three ripe papayas weekly, but its success was short-lived. A hailstorm struck, causing the tree to wither, its fruits to turn yellow, and eventually, it fell due to the harsh weather. The papaya tree lacked the resilience to withstand the storm.

Similarly, a believer needs the Holy Spirit's guidance to grow spiritually. The Bible describes the Fruit of the Spirit, which includes faithfulness (Galatians 5:22), as one of the elements for this spiritual growth. Just as the papaya tree required more than its natural strength to survive, we need the Holy Spirit's empowerment to cultivate qualities like faithfulness in our lives. This is possible through faithfulness to God, to oneself, to others, and nature.

 

Be faithful to God.

God is faithful; if we have His Spirit, we must exhibit faithfulness through obedience. Great men in Bible stories, like Abel, demonstrated faithfulness through obedience (Hebrews 11). Obey God through true worship, studying His Word, and following His commandments. By obeying God, we manifest the fruit of the Spirit's faithfulness.

 Be faithful to yourself.

This means taking care of your inner being, becoming self-aware, and being realistic about who you are and your purpose. Understand God's purpose in your life and acknowledge that you cannot do it alone without Him. You need Christ in your life (Galatians 2:20). Practice self-control, as it is part of being realistic about God's image in you. Let Christ lead your life and crucify those drives that hinder your faithfulness.

 Be faithful to others.

Exhibit faithfulness in your workplaces, working as unto the Lord, not just for money (Colossians 3:23). Be faithful to your church by serving, giving, and fellowshipping with others. Encourage and disciple those God wants you to (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Be faithful to nature.

God did not create nature for destruction, but that man should tend it for His glory. He instructed in Genesis 1:28, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." This calls us to be faithful to animals, protect the environment, and make life easy for its inhabitants.

It is our responsibility to be faithful in whatever we do. You cannot exhibit love, peace, joy, kindness, and goodness while leaving out faithfulness and claiming to have the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit is singular; any attempt to exclude faithfulness means you manifest rotten fruit. Be faithful to God, to yourself, to others, and to nature.

thank you for Reading. 

Ayella John Bosco, Writer/Critic/Teacher

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