The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... Galations 5:22-23
If you are looking at two trees that are bearing fruit, an apple tree and an orange tree, can you tell just by looking at them which one is the apple tree and which is the orange tree? Of course you can, because you know what apples and oranges look like. The evidence that a tree is an apple tree is that the fruit growing there are apples. The evidence that a tree is an orange tree is that the fruit growing on it are oranges. In the same way, if you are a Christian, people should be able to look at your life and recognize that you are a believer because of the fruit your life bears -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Not too long ago, someone described me as a "happy person". Hopefully, what they thought was happiness, was actually the joy that can only come from being in Christ. Being happy is dependent on circumstances around us, but joy is something God-given and it doesn't go away when life throws us difficult situations. What kind of fruit does your life bear?
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. Luke 6:44
...for out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45b
6 comments:
I always enjoy posts and thoughts about the Fruit of the Spirit. Very good point!
I do love your optimism, even though I've never really been an optimistic person...
Being happy is dependent on circumstances around us, but joy is something God-given and it doesn't go away when life throws us difficult situations.
I've always seen it the opposite way (I'm Ms. Cup-half-empty). Joy is the gift we earn between hardships. Without the tragedy, we might not fully appreciate the happy parts.
I like your way better. :D
I'm currently doing the Beth Moore study on the Psalms of Ascent. She was just talking about Psalm 128 in the HCSB version states, "How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!"
She was saying "that even if happy is most appropriately connected with circumstances, I'd like the record to show that God has made a tremendous impact on my circumstances... the original term [for blessed] encompasses both, suggesting both a condition (blessed) and a human reaction (happy)."
Thanks for the thought provoking post!
A WONDERFUL reminder, Kathy! I hope I can bear good fruits. :-))))
Excellent post ~ well, said!
Post a Comment