BLESSED WITH FRUIT
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!’” Galatians 5:22-23, NLT
Theme: We know we have heard the Holy Spirit correctly when our lives produce His “fruit.”
ZERO SELF-CONTROL
Yesterday, I told you that due to illnesses, injuries, and the lockdown, I put on a lot of weight. When I first began to notice that none of my clothes fit, I told myself to cut back on the carbs for a few days until I got myself back under control. Nothing drastic: not Keto, not Atkins. But just cut back and deliberately think about what I’m eating. I walked right out to the kitchen and grabbed my favorite “carb-a-licious" breakfast snack. Then I continued directly to the Krispy Kreme box at work, eating a STALE doughnut—not even a tasty one!—without being able to stop myself. Even for an hour, I just could not make that change.
IT IS ONE OF THE BLESSINGS
Yet, the Bible promises that I can have self-control and can overcome. But not on my own. If I am led by the Spirit and filled with the Spirit, His fruit will overflow in my life. “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, ESV). If I invite God to help me in any struggle, He will make a way for me to rise above even these smaller temptations. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).
Make it Personal: With God, I am able. Without God, I am a wimp, tossed by the desires of my life. Without His moderation, I will over-shop, overeat, over-indulge in drink, in gossip, in indignation, or impatience. So, talk to God. Share your heart and struggles. Ask for His help. Then listen. He wants you to overcome, to be transformed, and to be a shining example. He does not want you to do this on your own. He wants you to enjoy the blessings of an abundant life, walking with the Spirit.
Pray: Father, thank You for the Son, who cleanses me from all unrighteousness. Thank You for Your Spirit, who empowers my feeble will and leads to a life full of Your fruit and evidence of Your grace in my life. May I rely on Him daily, even minute by minute, to walk in the Spirit and produce fruit in keeping with salvation. Amen.
Read: Galatians 5:13-25; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 3:8; John 14:16-17
Weekly Memory Verse: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)