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Witnessing To Whom We Belong
by Laura Curll

While reading from a book of daily inspirations recently, I came across a passage that kept my attention in particular.  It referenced how we, as Christians, can show others to whom we belong by displaying the fruit of the Holy Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  In my evangelizing experiences with both believers and non-believers, I have found that being a visible witness of this fruit most often leads to an interest by the other person(s) to hear the word of God, consider a relationship with Jesus Christ, or renew their trust in His plan of salvation.  After all, this fruit represents the likeness of Christ, of all that is good, and I have met many people who are desperately searching for this goodness in their daily lives and someone to share with them how they can attain it.  Two examples of evangelization through witness by drawing from the fruits of the Spirit, one of modern day, and one of Biblical times comes to mind.

Our recent Festival of Faith stands out to me as an awe-inspiring testament to the workings of the Spirit and the bearing of the fruit of being alive in Christ.  The spiritual breadth of coming together as one community of believers was in and of itself impactful, but perhaps one of the greatest opportunities this event offered was felt in the momentum to take this fruit and share it with others, proclaiming Jesus Christ to the world by showing to whom we belong.

In this jubilee year honoring St. Paul, I am also drawn to the demonstration of these same fruits through his works as he traveled amongst the people spreading the Good News.  When first speaking to the Gentiles, Paul offers this:  “ But he (God) has always given evidence of the good things he does…and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” (Acts 14:17)  This passage allows for the direct connection between God’s own acts of goodness in witness to us and the results of that goodness on us.  In his letters, Paul continues to extol the virtues of fruitful witness by writing of sharing spiritual gifts for strengthening others (Romans 1:11), and the Spirit bearing witness with our spirit identifying us as children of God (Romans 8:16), as well encouraging us to be imitators of God by living in Christ’s love (Ephesians 5:1).  In I Thessalonians 2:10 and 12, Paul even explains to those who were witnesses to his ministry, “devoutly, justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you…exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”  What effective evangelization can be grasped from St. Paul’s life and advice!

Manifesting and sustaining the fruits of the Holy Spirit within ourselves can offer valuable opportunities for others to see Christ in us, but also great potential in leading others to Him by witnessing to Whom we belong.