The Spirit's Fruit

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isaiah 32:17)

This is a beautiful promise Isaiah offers as he envisions the work of God's Spirit in the world. While one is tempted to spiritualize these benefits and say that for the individual who lives righteously there will be inner-peace, inner-quietness, and inner-confidence, the broader context of this passage is a picture of society restored.  

Righteousness is justice well lived-out. According to Isaiah, the results of living righteously are peace, quietness and confidence.

1. In the midst of our broken world, the Spirit is poured out on us.
2. The Spirit causes justice and righteousness to spring up in unexpected places.
3. That righteousness bears peace, quietness, and confidence —not only spiritually, but a peaceful, quiet, and confident society.
4. Even though trouble comes, the righteous can continue to grow and bear fruit.

To sum up: It is the Spirit who brings forth righteousness in the world and in us, and when we cooperate with His work in us the results are peace, quietness, and confidence in us and spilling over to our society.

So let's start the revolution now and relentlessly pursue righteousness!