As one examines what the Scriptures teach about the fruits of the Spirit, you could be intimidated.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23.
Working all nine of these traits into our life seems impossible, and it is. However, the moment we became Christians, the Holy Spirit began a divine work to produce Christ's character in us. Let me say this, regardless of who you are, the Spirit works from the same model, Jesus Christ. The Spirit looks to Christ in order to find the "blueprint" for your character.
The Spirit will immedately begin helping you experience and practice this same love that Jesus had when He laid down His life for His friends. The same joy He experienced will be filled in you. The identical peace that guarded the heart of Jesus, even as He was being beaten and mocked, will be the peace that the Spirit works to instill in us. The patience Jesus had for His most unteachable disciple will be the patience that the Spirit will develop in us. The kindness Jesus showed toward children and sinners will soften our hearts towards others. There will be a goodness about us that is only explainable by the presence of the Spirit of God. The Spirit will build the same faithfulness into us that led Jesus to be entirely obedient to His Father. The Spirit will teach us self-control so that we will have the strength to do what is right and resist temptation.
All of this, I believe, is as natural as the growth of fruit on a tree. You do not have to "orchestrate" it on your own. It automatically begins the moment we become believers. How quickly will the fruit grow? That depends on how completely we yeild ourselves to the Holy Spirit's activity. Is there any fruit growing in you today?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23.
Working all nine of these traits into our life seems impossible, and it is. However, the moment we became Christians, the Holy Spirit began a divine work to produce Christ's character in us. Let me say this, regardless of who you are, the Spirit works from the same model, Jesus Christ. The Spirit looks to Christ in order to find the "blueprint" for your character.
The Spirit will immedately begin helping you experience and practice this same love that Jesus had when He laid down His life for His friends. The same joy He experienced will be filled in you. The identical peace that guarded the heart of Jesus, even as He was being beaten and mocked, will be the peace that the Spirit works to instill in us. The patience Jesus had for His most unteachable disciple will be the patience that the Spirit will develop in us. The kindness Jesus showed toward children and sinners will soften our hearts towards others. There will be a goodness about us that is only explainable by the presence of the Spirit of God. The Spirit will build the same faithfulness into us that led Jesus to be entirely obedient to His Father. The Spirit will teach us self-control so that we will have the strength to do what is right and resist temptation.
All of this, I believe, is as natural as the growth of fruit on a tree. You do not have to "orchestrate" it on your own. It automatically begins the moment we become believers. How quickly will the fruit grow? That depends on how completely we yeild ourselves to the Holy Spirit's activity. Is there any fruit growing in you today?
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent.
One thing I've learned about being a Christian is that I can't do anything by myself. In order to achieve my goals of being more Christ like I have to allow God. I have to get out of His way and allow Him to take the lead. There are many times that I think I need to do something to become more like Him when actually He is already working in me to change me. I have to stop and just get out of His way so that He can make me more... I find that a lot of Christians don't really understand that. The things that I wan't to change are not necissarily the things He wants changed at the moment. What do you think about this statement? Do you find it to be true sometimes?
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment, you are exactly right!!! There are things that we know need to be changed, so we try in our own strength to change those things. One of two things happens, you either become discouraged and stop trying to make the changes, or you make the change and then after sometime you are right back to where you started because you did it in your strength instead of God's.
ReplyDeleteThe other part is true as well, we need to let God be God!! Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." That means, stop trying to do God's work and just let Him lead you. Maybe what you are trying to change is not necessarily what God wants done yet. Psalm 46:10a, "Be STILL, and KNOW that I am God." We need to learn to listen to God. We are so busy speaking and thinking and letting our thoughts wander, even when praying, that many times we don't hear what God is saying. God says, "Hey, be quiet and let me speak for a change."
Lastly, most Christians never learn the most important truth...God will ALWAYS deal with your sin first!! What are you asking God for? Maybe a new career, financial help, marriage help? Are things happening for you, or are you left asking, "God, where are you?" Well, God is there, and He always answers, but, have you taken the time to examine yourself? Any unconfessed or unrepentant sin will keep you from receiving from God because God will not reward or bless sin. He will deal with it first and God says, "Wait a minute, were not going any further until we deal with this stuff first." And the hard part is that we need to be willing with the things God brings up because He is going to keep bringing it up until we deal with it. Fully surrender and acknowledge that God is in control!! Remember, there can only be ONE general!! Yours in Christ, Harold.