The Fruit of the Spirit

SCRIPTURE
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

OBSERVATION
Of course, I had to blog on the fruit of the Spirit - this is my personal goal in life! As I studied this Scripture, I realized that to simply place these characteristics before me as something to work at is the same as what the Galatians were doing by reverting back to living by the law. Notice verse 25 - by keeping in step with the Spirit, by walking with the Spirit, fruit is naturally produced.


APPLICATION
So instead of striving to be loving, joyful, peaceful and patient, kind, good faithful, gentle and full of self-control, I just need to be filled with the Spirit. I need to walk with, cooperate with, and seek the Spirit of God. The fruit will come.

PRAYER
Father, please show me more and more ways to cooperate with Your Holy Spirit. Keep me in step with you. Amen.

Sons (and Daughters) of God

SCRIPTURE
Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


OBSERVATION
Paul is explaining to the Galatians that they are free in Christ, based on faith, not on works or obedience to the law. He is telling them (and us) that all Christians, regardless of nationality, sex, or station in life, are equal heirs to the kingdom of God because of what Christ did and our belief in that fundamental. We cannot earn our freedom; it is a gift.


APPLICATION
Paul's message to the Galatians here was a reminder to those who were turning back to the law and away from the faith-based gospel they first received.

As I read it, I gleaned something else. I identified with the equality he describes for ALL Christians. It does not matter who we are, where we live, what we have . . . we are all equal inheritors of God's kingdom because of Jesus. I am to remind myself that 'the church' is every one of us who believes in Christ as our Redeemer. We may differ on many other things in life and in worship but if we share that belief, we are brothers and sisters - worthy of respect for we will share an eternity together.

PRAYER
Lord, let me look upon all of Christ's believers as equals. Even if I disagree with details of their lives or practices, they are Your church, of which I am a small part. Give me Your eyes to look upon Christians and non-Christians alike. I want to see the world as You see it. Amen.

Am I Trying to Please Men or God?

SCRIPTURE
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.


OBSERVATION
The apostle Paul is writing to the Galatians that they are not to listen to a gospel other than the one he received from Christ himself and relayed to them. He adds that even if he, himself, were to try to sell them a different gospel, he should be condemned. He offers this argument, explaining to the Galatians that he is not trying to please men, but God himself. He concludes by stating that if he were trying to please men, he would not be a servant of Christ. Paul considers himself a slave of God; a slave of righteousness.


APPLICATION
Who am I trying to please? I should be the unique person God created me to be. We all conform to our surroundings in simple ways - the way we talk, eat, manners and customs, the societal laws we follow. The Bible even instructs us to submit to the authority of the government when it comes to paying taxes, not breaking the law, etc.

Some choices are easier than others. How we dress; what we watch and listen to; how we spend our time and money; how we conduct ourselves in relationships and business. But, there are times when the choices will get harder and harder. There may come a time when what society says and what God says conflict.

We must establish a line that we will not cross when it comes to the morals, values, and directives the Lord gives us. It is then that we must seek God as our authority.

Am I trying to please men or God?


PRAYER
My wish is to please you Lord. I know that I fail miserably, perhaps each day. Keep me mindful of Your words and Your wishes for my thoughts, words, and behaviors. Guide me. Amen.

And The Lord Worked With Them

SCRIPTURE
Mark 16 19-20 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.


OBSERVATION
After Jesus left the disciples with their assignment, He went to heaven to sit in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples were obedient - they preached everywhere. I love the next phrase - and the Lord worked with them. The disciples did what they were told to do and, of course, the Lord did what He said He would do. He confirmed the gospel message being described by the disciples to the people by performing amazing miracles through them.


APPLICATION
The Lord worked with them. I'm certain that holds true today. If we will be obedient and share Jesus with others, He will work with us too. We know from our own salvation that it is not the work of others that penetrates our hearts, but the work from above. But someone has to start the conversation, plant the seed, raise the awareness of others. That someone is me - and it's you. It's each of us, doing our part so that the Lord can work through us - work WITH us. How wonderful!

PRAYER
Father, show me how you want me to minister to others. Show me opportunities to share you. I'm anxious for you to work with me. In fact, I'm honored. Amen.

Don't Be Caught Sleeping

SCRIPTURE
(Mark 13:33) "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is."


OBSERVATION
Four of Jesus' disciples asked Him when the end of time will come. Jesus tells them in this discourse that no one but God Himself knows the time of the end. He continues to tell them that there will be definate signs prior to the end, and then warns them to keep alert and be personally ready.


APPLICATION
There is a continuous influence in the world to trivialize or discredit the warnings of Jesus to keep alert. Paul writing to Timothy (II Timothy 3: 1-9) says that in the last days difficult times will come. He then gives a descriptive discourse that could have come from this mornings newspaper. If we can be lulled into a state of believing that we have all the time in the world, the lack of urgency will create complacency which will result in lethargy and lost souls for God's kingdom.

PRAYER
God, constantly keep before me the call to win lost souls before Your Son's return. I desire to be faithful and alert until the end.

What Was That You Said?

SCRIPTURE
(Mark 12:12&13) "And they (the chief priests and scribes) were seeking to seize Him; and yet they feared the multitude. . . And they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Him, in order to trap Him in a statement."


OBSERVATION
The truth of Jesus' words are not always easy to hear. Jesus often spoke in such a way as to reveal the heart attitude of His listeners. The Pharisees were threatened by the popularity and following of Jesus, so they formed a partnership with the followers of Herod to trap Jesus in or with incriminating statements that Jesus would make Himself. They were dumbfounded with His insight and wisdom.


APPLICATION
There are still those today who are threatened by the devotion and commitment of the followers of Christ. His words still reveal heart attitudes. Many in today's society, whether in Hollywood or policy makers on capital hill, seem to take delight in degrading or making Christians look foolish in what they say and do. We do not have to defend the Word of God, just speak His truth in love.

PRAYER
God, help me to depend upon Your devine wisdom and not be swayed by the opinions of man or societal persuasions. I want my words to glorify You.

It's the Percentage, Not the Amount

SCRIPTURE
Mark 12:43-44
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."


OBSERVATION
The widow's gift was far more valuable to God then the riches of the wealthy because she gave a larger portion of what she had.


APPLICATION
God is more interested in the percentage than He is the amount. Some have lots of money or lots of time. Some have few. God is less interested in whether I have a lot or a little to give, but rather whether what I give is proportional to what I have. Far too often I have made the mistake of patting myself on the back for giving a gift to the church or paying my tithe, when in actuality I was simply giving out of my abundance. Yes, I gave out of obedience, but did I give till it hurt? Only those who give till it hurts — whether they give little or a lot — truly discover the joy of full trust in the Lord.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to give until it hurts! I don't want to simply give out of abundance, but out of lack as well!