Fruit of the Spirit -continued

I think the fruit of the Spirit comes with being righteous with God. I love my peace, love, and joy. When I slip up and sin, “for all have sinned,’ that is when I lose it- my peace and joy. At that point, what I have is regret. I am so thankful for forgiveness and restoration. 

     When I think about some examples of guilt and how they were restored, I think about Peter who denied Jesus and then went out and wept. He was forgiven and regained his fruit of the Spirit. However, I have to remember Jonah who ran. He wasn’t regretful until he was in the belly of the fish. After being spit out, he then went and did God’s calling but he still didn’t want to. He pouted, but he was pleased when God sent a shade. Then Jonah pouted again when God took it away. Now, that was a stubborn man! It took some doing to get him to enjoy his fruit of the Spirit. God had to give him a real taking to. 

     Which category are you. Do you carry your guilt around? Or do you wisely ask forgiveness and let your guilt easily be removed? Do you really love gaining the fruit of the Spirit and willingly and quickly go after it. 

Fruit of the Spirit

It has been a very long, hot August and September. The area where I live has gone the longest that I can ever remember without rain. And, Lord, I pray for rain. I pray You dump a full portion upon us. 

     That being said, I have decided I will not be planting my usually turnip green patch this fall. It is past time for planting, and I do not desire to water a garden as I cannot even water my yard. My grass is dead and I certainly have no need to mow.

     However, I can water my fruit. There is no expense required. I go back to the golden rule I learned in childhood. “Treat Others as you want to be treated.” This leads also into nourishing my Fruit of the Spirit - the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodwill toward others. It takes so little effort. All I need to help me is the Living Holy Spirit residing within me. 

     My prayer today is, Lord, I not only pray for rain, but I pray You help me grow my Fruit of the Spirit. 

Meditate

My Scripture for today is Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in His law he meditates day and night.”

 

I’ve never tried to meditate. I looked up how. It said to: Find a quiet spot-Set my position -Close my eyes -Focus on my breath- Return or start over if I lose focus or get off-track 

 

Yet, how do I mediate on the Lord all day? I came up with: 

 

M ake time

E nter into communication with the Lord

D o it minute by minute, day and night

I gnite my love for Christ

T alk to God

A lter my fleshly desire

T ake the initiative to put God first

E mbrace the Lord and His Word

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The Price of My Sin

Jesus and the Price of Sin 

 

Eve started it and Adam followed.

Yet, if I had been there, it would have been me.

All the children were next. Like a flock of sheep, we tag along.

The cost was great.

At first, there was a sacrificial blood offering.

Sin was too great. The blood offering required more.

Picture the greatness of God’s love!

He delivered to us His only Son. 

Jesus came. He left His Father. He left His home.

Here was the picture of a man who had no sin. 

He came to walk among those who did.

What more did He have to pay? What more was the cost?

What did Jesus have to endure for me!

Jesus had to live with what He knew was to come. 

There was a willingness, yet, “His sweat was like drops of blood.” Luke 22:44 

“Judas betrayed him.” (John 18:2) In sin, I, too, betray my Lord.

Peter denied Him. I, too, have denied Him.

Jesus was flogged. (John 19:19) He was beaten with a whip. 

His flesh was torn- His blood ran red.

“The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head.” John 19:2

“They slapped Him in the face.” John 19:3b

He was forced to carry His own cross to Golgotha. John 19:17

What more would my sin cause?

It was the spikes driven into His hands and feet.

It was the pressure upon His body hanging there on the cross.

It was grotesque what Jesus suffered for my sin.

Yet, upon the cross, He forgave a thief when He said, 

“Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:24b

Jesus had to look upon His mother standing there in grief and tears. 

 Not only was Jesus nailed, but His “side was pierced.” John 19:34

The soldiers “divided up His clothes by casting lots.” Matt. 27:35

In Jesus’ final hour, He suffered when His Father looked away.

He called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matt. 27:46b 

God had looked away, for my sin had been placed upon His Son. 

Jesus cried again, “It is finished! John 19:30

He had paid the price. He took my sin. 

The Intervention!

An intervention is a purposeful action to alter a process or confront a loved one.

Have you ever had an intervention? You might have, without even knowing it.

 

I believe God did and still does many interventions.

     Jonah had an intervention when he was going the wrong way. God sent a storm and a big fish. Jonah’s unexpected joy ride last 3 days before he was spit out and turned around.

     Paul had an intervention when he was walking the Damascus Road. He was going the wrong way. God sent a blinding light to stop Paul from what he intended. His blindness lasted 3 days before His eyes were opened.

     Moses had an intervention. He was encouraged to return to Egypt by a burning bush. It took some talking between him and God to convince Moses that he was the man for the job.

     Consider the flat tire, the appointment missed, the unexpected event-anything that changed your plans for the day: were those interventions? 

     Regardless, at the end of day, always be thankful.

         

Freedom

I woke up feeling grateful for living in a free country, having the freedom to make choices. I just pray my choices are righteous ones that lead to pleasing my Savior and Lord.

 

It is good to be free, not chained in bondage; Sometimes gaining freedom takes action:

 

F-reedom to make a choice - one not leading to bad consequences 

R-eaching out to the One true God.

E-xpeling evil fleshly thoughts

E-ntering into thankful praise for my Lord

 

The scriptures tell about being free and having freedom: 

 

“For freedom Christ has set us free’ stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

 

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

“Out of my distress I called on the Lord, the Lord answered me and set me free.” Psalm 118:6

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 

 

 

Daily and Hourly Trust

TRUST

 

Life is an exciting journey with God in it. 

 I may not know what is in the day but I know God walks with me. 

He is with me in the valleys and on top of the mountain peaks,

in the desert plains and in the moisture laden fields,

in the happy times and the sad times, 

in the waking hours and in my sleep, 

in the drought and in the rains, 

in the laughter and the tears,

in the gain and in the loss,

in the lows and the highs.

Trust in Him.

God is there!