Fruit

I have often read Galatians 5:22-23, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”, and wished I could portray all of these from the inside out for others to see. However, I am a complete failure.

     It was interesting to read the In Touch devotional this morning regarding the above list. I know the meaning of each fruit listed, but the devotional defined them in a new way. I am quoting below what was given from In Touch mainly because I want to keep this in mind for reference. The wording may be changed a little as I apply it to myself.

 

Love- is the foundation for all other virtues and is cultivated by me embracing God’s unconditional love. 

Joy- is contentment regardless of my circumstances.

Peace- comes from me trusting God and surrendering to him.

Patience- is developed by me trusting God’s perfect timing.

Kindness- is God’s compassion reflected to others. 

Goodness- occurs as I mirror His righteousness and justice.

Faithfulness- means I am steadfast and trustworthy.

Gentleness- comes when I approach others with humility.

Self-control- requires me to exercise restraint and rely on the Holy Spirit’s strength.

Persevere

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

     My first thought this morning when I woke was that I cannot change yesterday, but I can change today and look forward with hope for tomorrow. I was going to write about that, but then I read the above verse and asked the question, “What’s in it for me?” With that thought came the next, “Life is not about me.” I should never lose heart in working toward a dream or doing for someone else regarding of whether I see results or whether it benefits me. Persevere anyway! Never grow weary. There is a purpose, and only God knows. 

 

 

Water to Wine

  Water to Wine
       Jesus gave us many parables in the Bible which illustrated a spiritual lesson.  This morning as I was reading in the Book of John, I wondered why Jesus' very first miracle was the changing of water to wine.  What point was He making?  I did some research and found several opinions, one of which I tended to agree with.  Then I developed a few thoughts of my own. 

     Now, I have never made wine and really do not know the process, but I do understand that the grapes have to be broken down in order to start the fermenting process which leads to a fine tasting wine. 

     Therefore, my theory is that Jesus may have been pointing to either one of two things.  First, the breaking of the grapes into wine may have symbolized that He would become broken, beaten, and placed on the cross in order to take our sins upon Himself so that we, believers in Christ, could be redeemed (fermented ) and made adopted children into His family. 

     Secondly, we sinners, are broken down much as the wine grapes.  Christ takes us, as sinners, forgives us when we ask, and we then develop over time into stronger characters for Christ.  Our fermenting takes time.  We must accept Christ as the very Son of God, knowing that He died for our sins.  As we delve into His Word, learning more about Him, our fermenting becomes finer with age. 

     Some commentators tell us the barrels which were filled with water may have been those used by the people to wash with.  If so, maybe the barrels (us) were dirty and then cleansed (with forgiveness of our sins) and made "white as snow" ... a fine wine indeed.

     Of course to become finer with age, I cannot leave out what we must learn, and that is the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,..."

A Good Job

     What motivates me to do a good job and to do it right?  First of all, my heart needs to be in it, or the completed result will be sloppily done.  Maybe, my determination to do a good job started early when my parents told me to clean my room.  Or maybe, I watched how they, themselves, completed tasks.  I wanted to meet their expectations.  That, in itself, placed a desire in my heart.  I was dependent upon them, needing their instruction, direction, and guidance.
     When I became a Christian, I also became dependent upon Christ and the Holy Spirit living within.  Although I have no desire to do a sloppy job in living a work for Christ, I admit that I often fail.  In my failure, I realize I will forever be dependent upon the Holy Spirit for instruction, direction, and guidance as I continually delve into the Word for knowledge and wisdom.  As a Christian and through Scripture, I have learned what God's expectations are, and I am motivated to meet His expectations. 
     My work should not be of the flesh, and I should resist willingly practicing these works.  
Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness. carousing, and anything similar.  I am warning you about these things - as I warned you before - that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." 
     My rewards or fruit for a good job is not only a sense of fleshly pride, but an attitude of the Spirit.  My desire is to build and develop my character upon these principles. 
Galatians 5:22-23, 26, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."
    
    

The Model Prayer

     As I was reading my IN Touch devotional I came across good insight on how to pray.  Most all of us, at some time or the other, feel like we really do not know how to pray and what to pray for in our lives or the lives of others.   The author refers us to Luke 11:1 when even one of Jesus’ disciples said to Jesus, “…Lord, teach us to pray…”
     The writer of the devotional tells us that “when we use Scripture to speak to the heavenly  Father, our conversation contains His own divine authority.”  The author gives us some scripture references:
    
     (NIV) Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
     (NIV) Colossians 1:9-14   ⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you  to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The writer provides bullet points on what Paul prayed for the Colossian church:

     Understand God’s plan for their lives
     Conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ and pleasing to Him
     To bear fruit in every good work
     To grow in the knowledge of God
     To be strengthened according to His power
     To walk in gratitude

     *Above taken from In Touch – August 2014 publication- Devotional for August 22 and weekend version

      After reading this as I sat in “A Friendly Shade” I had to go back to what I consider the perfect model prayer given to us by Jesus himself in Matthew 6 and the advise He gave:

       ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.⁹ After this manner therefore pray ye:
     Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.¹⁰ Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.