Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Christian living

  • Fruit of the Spirit

    produce department - fruit

    As I walked through the produce section of a grocery store recently, I was struck by the huge variety of fruit and berries. Numerous varieties of apples, oranges, and other citrus fruits, strawberries, bananas, melons, grapes, and more. There were also fruits that people consider vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and others. If I had been in a green grocer’s, the variety would have been far larger.

    We’re all familiar with fruit of some kind, even if we mislabel it. The same was true in biblical times; it’s no wonder the Bible refers to the fruit of the Spirit. Almost every Christian is familiar with the famous fruit of the Spirit passage

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

    There are also many other passages that speak of this fruit directly or point towards it. Some of them you might be as familiar with. John 15:5, Mathew 7:16-17, Ephesians 5:9, Colossians 1:10, Philippians 1:11, James 3:18, Romans 8:5-6.

    It’s abundantly clear that spiritual fruit is important, but did you ever stop to wonder why?

    Physical fruit isn’t for the benefit of the plant. It grows to provide a source of replacement plants and to benefit those who eat it. It’s the same with the fruit of the Spirit. As we grow more Christlike, the changes in our lives benefits those around us and glorifies God.

    When we are more patient, loving, and self-controlled, we are a greater blessing to those around us. In the process we become better people more like the design God has for us. The fruit of the Spirit is a double blessing.

    May you grow plentiful, healthy fruit that the world will be blessed in the name of Jesus.

    That’s astounding when you think of it. God wants to grow and mature you and me to be a blessing to others. The fruit of the Spirit we develop glorifies God.

    Kevin

    There Is No Fruit of the Spirit without Holy Spirit

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    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

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    Live in Abbotsford? There are many good churches. This is where I attend.

  • Disciples – what are they?

    Disciples – what are they?

    Jesus and his disciples

    Last night we watched the 2016 movie “Risen”. It’s the tale of a Roman soldier sent to find the body of Jesus. He encounters Jesus and the disciples and eventually becomes a believer. It’s the sort of story that’s been told before, and there is a fair bit of artistic license, but it was an okay watch.

    There is a scene where Peter and the soldier are discussing how Jesus, with a full body, can disappear, and Peter admits to not understanding. Peter says, “We are followers, we follow to find out.”

    That’s a good line and fits the movie. We are all followers because we want to know Jesus better. Yet, in another sense, it’s woefully inadequate. We are more than seekers of knowledge. As his disciples, we follow the master in order to become like Him, to follow his instructions. It also keeps the follower as the center of the search not the Lord.

    As disciples, Jesus should be our focus and Lord. We do our part to bring about the answers to the Lord’s Prayer. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). God changes hearts and minds, but we have labor to do to bring about the kingdom.

    Perhaps you never considered the fact that being a Christian was never meant to be a passive activity and isn’t primarily about you (or me). All true believers are disciples and have been given a task to accomplish by Christ Himself

    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

    We all have a differing role to play in that commission and have been given different spiritual gifts to accomplish it. Yet we are called to do our part to bring about the kingdom.

    Yes, we are called to grow in Christ. Yes, we are called to know. Yes, we are called into a deeper relationship with him.

    But if all that stays internal and passive, we are not being true to our calling. Our relationship with Jesus is intimately personal, but it is also public, and we are commanded to take it into the world.

    I pray, that as you grow in Christ, you grow in true discipleship and are used greatly by the Lord.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Step Out of the Boat Faith

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    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living