Rearing Spiritual Fruit

A pastor writes: "When God created man, he made him "in his own image."  That was God's original plan, and it has not changed.  He wants to make us like himself...godly.  He does it by working on our character through his Word, through his Holy Spirit, and through circumstances.  The Greek word for character"...means "tested and reliable."  It brings to mind the work of a blacksmith, describing something that has gone through the fire, has been beat on...but has stood the test."  Notice, one of the first things God said to man was, "Be fruitful."  And Jesus tells us how: "If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit" (John 15: 5 CEV).  But fruit take time to ripen.  When you try to rush the process, it doesn't taste as good.  Have you ever tasted gassed tomatoes?  You buy them at the grocery store.  If farmers picked ripe tomatoes ad shipped them, they would get smashed en route to market.  So, they pick them green, spray them with ethylene gas before they go to market, and the gas quickly ripens green tomatoes into red.  Nothing is wrong with those tomatoes, but if you have ever tasted a vine-ripened tomato, you know there is no comparison.  Similarly, it takes time for spiritual fruit to grow in your life.  You can't take a crash course and graduate with spiritual maturity.  It requires a lifetime of walking with God, leaning on Him, learning from Him, and loving Him with all your heart. God wants to produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life, so cooperate with Him.