Did you know there are eight (or nine, depending upon the list) fruits mentioned in the Bible? Some of them are unfamiliar to many children – at least in their natural fruit form. You can have fun as a family trying new foods, learning about them in the Bible and even extending it to discuss a different kind of fruit – the fruit of the Spirit – in this fun family devotional.
Before the devotional, gather grapes, raisins, dates, figs, olives (Yes, olives are fruit.), apples, pomegranates and melons for your family to sample. Depending on the time of year, you may only be able to find dried dates and figs, but there are times of the year when those in the Bible only had access to them dried as well. If you really want to go all out, search for a recipe – authentic or modern – your family would like making with one or more of the ingredients to cook together at the end of the devotional.
Bring together your children. Explain that the people in the Bible ate some of the same foods we do, but they ate some additional ones your family may not normally eat as well. As you let them sample the various fruits, share with them some verses where they are mentioned in the Bible:
- Apples – Song of Songs 2:5
- Dates – 2 Samuel 2:19
- Figs – Nehemiah 13:15
- Grapes – Deuteronomy 23:24
- Melons – Numbers 11:5
- Olives – Isaiah 17:6
- Pomegranates- Numbers 20:5
- Raisins – Numbers 6:3
(Note: There are additional scriptures for many of these, if you wish to dive a little deeper.) Spend a few minutes talking about why God may have chosen to pick each particular fruit for that passage.
Explain to your children that the Bible mentions a different kind of fruit in the Bible. It is not one we can eat, but fruit that Christians should bear in their character. Read Galatians 5:22-25. Have your children define each fruit in their own words and give examples of what it looks like in “real life”. Have them share which fruit is the easiest for them and which is the most difficult. (Note: Although ”fruit of the Spirit” implies that these things are perhaps easier with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that occurs at baptism, even younger children can begin working on them before they become a Christian.)
Brainstorm ways your family can be a light in the world by exhibiting more fruit of the Spirit in your lives. If you would like, you can have this discussion while making and eating your fruit recipe. End by each choosing one concrete action to take because of this study of fruit.