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The Lattice and the Vine: A Study in Galatians 5

In the world of gardening, there is a distinct difference between a plant that is thriving and a plant that is merely surviving. One is a "mighty oak," standing tall and purposeful; the other is a "mighty nuisance," tangling itself into structures it was never meant to inhabit.

In Galatians 5:16–26, the Apostle Paul uses this organic imagery to describe the reality of the Christian life. He makes it clear: we are like plants. We need care, nutrients, and light. But most importantly, we need to be growing in the right direction.

The Conflict of the Lattice

I recently had to repair the lattice under my front porch. Over the years, trees had interwoven themselves into the white painted slats. They grew through the holes, twisted around the wood, and eventually, the fence and the tree became one fused mess.

As these trees grew, the lattice began to squeeze them. The porch above prevented them from reaching the sun. Instead of becoming strong, they became stunted and restricted.

This is a picture of the "flesh." When we try to grow our lives around our own desires, we might feel like we are "well-rounded" for a while. We get a little sun and a little water, but eventually, our natural impulses—what Paul calls the "works of the flesh"—begin to restrict us. We become a nuisance to ourselves and those around us, only to be cut down.

Two Natures, One Garden

Paul describes a fierce internal conflict: “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other” (v. 17).

We live in a "do whatever makes you happy" world, but Paul warns us that the things that make our flesh "happy" are often the very things that destroy us. He lists them clearly: sexual immorality, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, and more.

These aren't just "mistakes." They are indicators. If these things are the primary "produce" of our lives, we aren't walking by the Spirit.

Produce Produce: The Evidence of Life

The beauty of the Christian life is that we don’t have to "manufacture" goodness. You can't force a tree to grow an apple; the apple is the natural byproduct of a healthy tree.

Paul lists the Fruit of the Spirit:

  • Love, Joy, and Peace

  • Patience, Kindness, and Goodness

  • Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control

If you are "in step" with the Spirit, these things will begin to grow. They aren’t measured by how many Sundays you sit in a pew or how much you put in the offering plate. They are measured by how you treat the person who cuts you off in traffic or how you respond when you are overlooked at work.

Taking the Flesh "Out to Pasture"

To let the fruit grow, something else has to die. Paul uses intense language: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (v. 24).

We cannot rehabilitate our old nature. We cannot "tame" our jealousy or "manage" our anger. We have to sacrifice them to the Lord. We have to take those fleshly impulses "out back" and put them to death so that the Spirit has room to move.

Root Check

As you go through your week, take a moment to look at your "branches."

  • Do you see the works of the flesh? Don't make excuses for them. Don't say, "That's just how I am."

  • Do you see the fruit of the Spirit? Is your kindness growing? Is your self-control strengthening?

If your fruit looks a little "mushy" or discolored, it might be time to push your roots deeper into the Word and the community of believers. We want to be trees planted by the water, bearing fruit in every season.

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