Let us start with a question: How do you know you are a Christian?
Galatians 5:22-25 & Matthew 7:20"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance... And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:22-24, KJV)
"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20, KJV)
On this Good Friday, our eyes are fixed on a rugged wooden cross—a tree of death that became a tree of life. It is here that we find the answer to the deepest question of the soul: How do I know I truly belong to Him?
Being a Christian is not merely a label we wear or a set of rules we follow. It is a fundamental change in our "spiritual DNA." Just as a literal tree is identified by the fruit hanging from its branches, a follower of Christ is identified by the "output" of their life.
The Evidence of the Spirit
The world looks for credentials, but God looks for character. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you because of what Jesus did on the Cross, He begins to produce a specific kind of harvest. You know you are a Christian not because you are perfect, but because these "fruits" are growing where there used to be thorns. Take a look how -
Love and Gentleness: Do you find yourself loving the "unlovable" or responding with kindness when you are provoked? This isn't human effort; it is the overflow of Christ’s love from the Cross working through you.
Peace and Longsuffering: In the midst of the "Good Friday" seasons of your life—seasons of suffering, waiting, or injustice—do you have a peace that passes understanding? A Christian is marked by a supernatural ability to endure with hope.
Faith and Temperance: Is there a new desire to be faithful to God and to exercise self-control over old habits? This "crucifying of the flesh" is the signature of the Spirit's work.
How do you know you are His? You know it when you see your focus shifting away from what is missing and redirecting toward what God is doing. You know it when bitterness is replaced by a soft heart. You know it when your primary reaction to difficulty is no longer a complaint, but a prayer.
The Fruit of the Spirit is the "evidence of His sustaining grace." It is the proof that the sacrifice of Jesus was not just a historical event, but a living reality in your heart today. Every moment of patience you show, every lesson of goodness you learn, and every battle where peace carries you through is a testimony that you belong to the King.
Looking at the Cross today, can you see how His "gentleness" and "meekness" provided the template for your own walk?
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Cross. We thank You that we do not have to wonder if we are Yours, for Your Spirit bears witness with our spirit. Produce in us a harvest of righteousness. Let our lives be so full of love, joy, and peace that the world knows we have been with Jesus. May our gratitude today transform our worship and steady our spirits. In the name of the One who gave it all, Amen.
Before you rest this Good Friday, name three specific moments today where you felt the Spirit leading you to respond with "fruit" (patience, love, or peace) instead of your natural reaction. Speak them out as a sacrifice of praise.
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