Do You Produce Good Fruit or Bad Fruit?

Have you ever thought about whether you produce good fruit or bad fruit?  As a Christian, you are probably familiar with Galatians 5:22 which says "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Previous verses to this reference the acts of the sinful nature -- sexual immorality, impurity,...idolatry...jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy....  I don't know about you but the acts of the sinful nature come much more naturally to me than those that are the fruit of the spirit.

As I thought about the two distinct natures - the sinful and the spirit (that of God) there is definitely conflict.

Paul says in Romans 7:14-20 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.  Essentially what he is saying is that he wants to do good but the sinful nature (natural bent) causes him to do bad.  We are all born with a sinful nature.  Even after we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we will still have this battle with the sinful nature.  The good news is that we have victory in Christ.

So let's go back to the fruit of the spirit.  These are the qualities/characteristics that are God-honoring.  If I put these down as a checklist and try to accomplish these as "tasks"--I will fail miserably.  I know this because I've tried.  Remember that sinful nature that is within each one of us?  I've attempted to gain these qualities in my own strength and failed.  The qualities produced by the spirit (the fruit) are only gained by the spirit's work.  As we humbly submit ourselves to God's authority in Christ Jesus and allow Him to do a work in us, only then can we produce the fruit of love, peace, patience, kindness, etc.

May you produce an abundance of fruit!

Rest for the Weary

Have you ever been weary to the bone?  Completely exhausted?  I am.  It's the kind of weary that is both physical and mental.  All strength is gone and there is no energy remaining.  Dictionary.com describes weary as exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress.  I've recognized recently that I am utterly exhausted in both body and soul.  Now that I recognize it, what next?

Did I mention I haven't been to the gym in two weeks or eating well?  Both of these factors impact the exhaustion on the body.  Jesus tells us “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28  Jesus knew that we would be weary and burdened.  He knew it would get
What else can cause weariness?  I know my weariness this week stems from long hours at the office, commitments in the evenings three days a week and the biggie--attempting to do God's job for Him.  Did you catch that last one?   Time and time again I find myself trying to figure out the next move in my life rather than listening to our sweet Savior and trust Him to guide my path.

Psalm 62:5 says Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  The only place we can find true rest is in God alone.  We must not taken on burdens we are not meant to carry.  Jesus tells us Matthew 11:29-30 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If you are weary today give your burdens to God.  He can handle it.