The Road Far From Home

Could it be that the younger son unrelentingly pleaded for his portion of the inheritance that his father gave in to his request, or was it to teach him a lesson? Whatever the reason, the son took his belongings and headed far from home. He foolishly wasted his life, spending all he had. Penniless, friendless, and in dire need, he came to his senses, decided to go back home, and ask his father’s forgiveness (Luke 15). Our heavenly Father sometimes gives us what we beg for even though He knows it may take us a long way from home, far away from His care.

The story Jesus told of a prodigal son depicts a selfish child who made poor choices and suffered the results of those decisions but later repented and returned home to his father. During his absence, the father watched for his son, and upon seeing him from a distance, ran to and embraced him, welcoming his homecoming. Jesus’ parable shows us that God our Father loves His children, despite their waywardness. He longs for their return to His care; His love and forgiveness cover the filth of where they’ve been, and He restores them in His family. You’ve not traveled the long, dusty road too far away from God that you cannot go back home to your Father. But you must first make the turn to return. 

Out of Sight

“Where there is no vision, the people perish. . .” (Proverbs 29:18)

People run amuck with no vision of God, choosing to go their way, following their easily deceived hearts. A deceived heart quickly leads the unsuspecting down spiritual, mental, emotional, physical destructive paths. But there’s good news in the second half of the verse: “But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

To keep the law, we must know what it says. Only by reading and meditating on God’s truths can we apply what we learn to our lives and live it out. Even though we fail, we escape visionless perishing by turning to God for forgiveness and restoration, regain a right standing with Him, and a clear vision of who He is. 

What Our Eyes See

 Physical sight and spiritual vision are opposites:

Gehazi stepped outside and saw the city surrounded by a great army with many chariots and horses of the enemy. His eyes “told” him death was imminent. Elisha asked God to open his servant’s eyes that he would see the truth (2 Kings 6:17). The Lord opened the servant’s spiritual eyes, and he saw not only the enemy but the enemy and entire mountain surrounded by God’s heavenly army of horses and fiery chariots. When the servant saw with spiritual vision, he was no longer afraid.

As King Saul and his army cowered in fear, David, the shepherd boy, was unafraid to challenge Goliath, the giant, who repeatedly defied Israel’s God. His confidence wasn’t in the small stone he placed in the sling but in the Lord God. His God, who rescued him before from the sheep’s predators, would defeat the nine-foot warrior he faced. David faced the situation through God’s perspective.

As a child of God, He is on our side and fights for us. The angel of the Lord goes before us; He is behind us, He encamps all around us and delivers us (Psalm 34:7); He holds us and covers us (Psalm 139:5). Stand on the truth of God’s promises. Fear is a liar!

When Words Fail

Divine Assignments

 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)

All of God’s gifts (spiritual, people, and motivational) are good and vital to His Church, and each of His children is gifted.

The moment you surrendered your life to Christ, God’s Holy Spirit provided you at least one spiritual gift to help His Church: the ability to give wise advice or a message of unique knowledge; great faith; the power to heal or perform miracles; ability to prophesy, discern God’s message from that of another spirit or speak in or interpret unknown languages (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). Each of God’s gifts is necessary for the Church to function smoothly.

Diverse types of people are beneficial to the body of Christ. You may be one of the “people gifts” Jesus provided after He ascended to His Father: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints for ministry and the building up of the Church (Ephesians 4:11–13).

Can you perceive God’s will? Do you enjoy serving or encouraging others, researching and communicating God’s Word, or freely giving your time and resources? Are you a “natural-born” leader and organizer? Are you compassion-driven for people in need? These are called motivational gifts. These tendencies did not “just happen” in your life; they were God-appointed before time began and given the moment of your conception. Do you have carpenter, cooking, or sewing skills, a beautiful singing voice without formal training? Are you known as a “Jack-of-all-trades?” God-given talents. All of God’s gifts are good and vital to His Church. However, Paul, the apostle, tells us that even though we serve in these gifts and skills for God’s glory and care for the needy but lack love for one another, we are nothing, only a loud noise (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Just as the human body has distinct parts, believers are individual members of His Church. God gifted each of us for His purposes, divine assignments, and does not change His mind. Our mission is to lovingly minister with these gifts and talents in His name as His eyes, mouth, hands, and feet, to not only be a blessing to believers but all people.

MIA

 

Only one missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle renders the finished picture incomplete. Your life is meaningful to God’s “big life picture.” He made you in His image; you are His child; He uniquely gifted you for service. But when you are missing in action and don’t fulfill your calling, God’s kingdom work isn’t complete.

Turn Off the Faucet

 “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4)

You ineffectively use time by mopping water spurting everywhere from a faulty faucet before addressing the problem's source. If you don’t turn off the tap or water main, you have a continual flow of mounting difficulties.

The same is true of our lives. By nature, we are sinners. But by God’s goodness and grace, Jesus’ blood supplied the remedy for sin’s cleansing; God made way for right-standing with Him. When we choose wrongdoing over living rightly, we face and must endure the consequences created by those choices—the situation will not right itself.

God shows kindness and patience with His wandering children, intending them to turn from wrong living back to His unflawed, prepared path. But we must not take advantage of His love, treating His longsuffering as “nothing.” Although our Father never forces anyone to turn off the faucet of disobedience, until we do, dripping troubles persist. Once His disobedient children turn from self-seeking waywardness to Him, asking for forgiveness, He cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:9). But understand that the penalties of poor living choices linger.

 

Altar Altered

 “. . . And when you believed in Christ, He identified you as His own by giving you the Holy Spirit whom He promised long ago.” (Ephesians 1:13 NLT)

Altered—changed, at the altar—the place where you surrendered your life to Jesus. The place’s location is insignificant. Your life, even if a child at the time of conversion, should be different from what it was before that moment you received Christ. From the time of re-birth and as we advance, you are to “work out what God has put in.” No one is worthy of salvation, but by God’s grace, it is made available to all people through Christ Jesus. Once His, we are to work out, live out, the salvation He worked in us to make Him known to a lost and dying world.

God’s Spirit dwells within us, evidence that we belong to Him. He orchestrates—is in total control—of everything. Be careful of complaining and fretting over circumstances that don’t follow your life plan. As His children, we are to trust Him in all things; praise and exalt His name. Your daily attitude and actions should match the message you proclaim. The world easily recognizes a hypocrite; don’t let inconsistencies in your walk as a believer be the excuse someone uses to reject Christ.

Have you been altar altered? If not, don’t delay; you may not see tomorrow or even the end of today. Right now, where you are, say “Yes” and invite Jesus to alter you at your altar. He is waiting to hear from you.

Habit Forming

 “. . . Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].” (Philippians 2:12 AMP)

What are some of the first things you do each morning? Say a prayer of thanks for a good night’s rest and a new day? Quiet time with God; exercise; enjoy a favorite beverage while catching up on current events? Routinely performing the same tasks forms habits; something we do without giving it any thought—we willingly yield to it.

The Apostle Paul says we are to work out what God has put in us. What has He put in us? Himself—God, the Holy Spirit, lives in every believer and makes available every resource we need to grow in our pursuit of spiritual maturity and knowledge of Him. Whether our daily habit-forming decisions are worthwhile depends on what we cultivate in the process.

God saved us, but He will not make us godly. We achieve godliness by walking with Him daily, living in obedience to His Word—it’s a decision we make. God has given us everything we need to live a godly life; precious promises that “enable you to share in His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desire” (2 Peter 1:4). We are to respond to God’s promises by adding to our faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone (v. 5–7). God will never impose righteous living; we must rid ourselves of harmful or unproductive habits and choose to live rightly; they do not automatically happen. As godly qualities develop in our lives, the more productive we become, growing in our Lord and Savior's knowledge and understanding.

Moving Mountains

 “And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” (Matthew 17:16)

Imagine the father’s confusion and brokenness as he expected a miracle from Jesus’ disciples. He had faith needed for his son’s healing; the men healed others with similar disorders. Why could they not miraculously help his son? The desperate father knelt before Jesus, asking for mercy.

How different our lives would be if we believed and embraced all that Jesus promised us. You may be thinking: I do believe what He promised. Yes? Think back; how far has your faith recently moved a mountain? Sounds extreme, but Jesus did use a mountain in His lesson-teaching-conversation with the disciples. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t cure the boy, Jesus said it was because of their unbelief (v. 20). He said with just a speck of faith, the size of a tiny mustard seed, they could command a mountain to move, and it would—nothing would be impossible for them with even a little faith. Jesus rebuked the boy’s demon, and it left him—demon-possessed one moment and set free the next.

We, too, may not experience miracles or see answers to our prayers because of little faith. What would cause our trust in God’s power to wane? Could it be we are out of fellowship with the Father? Was our prayer a selfish one? Was a timeframe added for the answer? Are we willing to pray, “Father, not my will, but Your will?” or “Whatever it takes?” Faith moves mountains only when it coincides with God’s will (1 John 5:14–15).

According to Jesus, another reason why the disciples could not expel the child’s demon: some miracles require prayer and fasting (v. 21). Not all believers are willing to make such sacrifices for moving mountains. Faith, like muscles, needs exercise to receive the full benefit. Exercising involves time, commitment, and discomfort. Are you willing to exercise your faith? What if the workout requires fasting to hear from God? What are you ready to do for a miracle?

 

Overcoming Giants

 “For the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (1Samuel 17:47)

How could this young shepherd boy stand up to and think he could defeat a mighty Philistine warrior, who was a giant of a man? Because he knew the One in whom to turn.

What life’s giant do you face? Have you been defeated, wondering why? Consider some of your conflicts compared to David’s with his family, shepherding, and later Israel’s king:

David:  After forty days of Goliath’s taunts, defying the Lord God, it was David who bravely addressed him, honoring God’s name. As his brothers intimidated and accused him of deceit and neglecting the family’s sheep, David boldly stood as he testified that the living God who delivered him from the lion and bear as he rescued sheep under his care would defeat this Philistine. With confidence in God, young David told the nine-foot warrior that the battle was the Lord’s; He would be the victor. And David trusted God when King Saul later looked to kill him.

You:  A life-giant defies the living God you serve. Is it fear, doubt, jealousy, envy, pride, intimidation—or someone? Your towering opponent’s goal is to cripple you; make you believe you are unworthy; your God is weak, unaware, and isn’t concerned about your welfare. As your adversary hurls insults and false accusations, stand boldly in your Savior’s strength as you recall how He delivered you in the past from life’s “lions and bears.”

God’s presence and power enabled David to confidently sling the stone that sank deep into Goliath’s forehead, knocking him facedown to the ground, defeated. Who or what is your “Goliath?” Every battle still belongs to the Lord; overcoming giants happens as believers go forth in Jesus’ power and authority. Trusting God, you, too, just like David, can boldly stand in confidence as He victoriously overtakes your life’s obstacles of every size.

 

He Knows My Name

“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

God proclaimed and showed His love for Israel, His chosen people, despite their spiritual decay mentioned previously. They were His and knew them by name.

As believers two thousand plus years later, we are also God’s chosen people. You may have wondered after repeated failures and rejection of God’s guidance if He still loves you. Will He forgive you again? He does; He will. Omniscient God knows everything from the most insignificant deed of Christian kindness to the most rebellious meanness—He knows you and me. Whether you are known as a “spiritual giant” or the weakest of His children, He has redeemed you, knows your name; He knows my name; we are His.

Interestingly, evil spirits also know peoples’ names (Acts 19:15). When the seven sons of a chief priest used the authority of Jesus and Paul’s names while expelling a man’s demon, the evil spirit replied that he knew Jesus and Paul but didn’t know who they were; jumped on them, stripping and wounding them. Great fear fell on that city, many became believers, the name of the Lord Jesus was honored, and many who practiced sorcery burned their incantation books publicly.

The evil spirit knew of Jesus and Paul because they effectively ministered with God's power and authority. Is your name known in the spiritual realm of darkness as one to fear, someone who believes God, claiming victory in Jesus’ name? A believer who knows by yielding to God the devil flees when you resist him? Do evil spirits tremble when you speak and act in the power and authority of Jesus’ name—when you pray? Do they know your name, or are you nameless to them, and they feel comfortably safe in your presence? 

The "Good" Sin

 “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)

As Christ-following believers, we should strive daily to refrain from doing what God’s Word refers to as evil, ungodly—sin—missing the mark. A misconception might be: I haven’t done anything wrong, so I’m okay. But doing good is an intentional action.

The “therefore” in the last verse of chapter four refers to what James wrote about lust, envy, jealousy, pride, friendship with the world, criticizing and judging fellow believers, and dependence on and self-confidence about our plans. The “good” we know to do is not to do such things. It also means if God impressed us to do or say something (His ways are always good and right) and we don’t follow through with it (the “good sin”)—we know we should do that “good” something and don’t do it; we missed our calling’s mark of perfection. We sinned.

What are we to do? James said, “Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.. . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (v. 7, 10). God is with you, wants the best for you, longs to help you, and is only a prayer away. With much to do in the name of the Lord before His return, or God calls us home, will He find you and me faithful?

 

Self-Control's Excuse

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . temperance. . .” (Galatians 5:23)

Temperance, or self-control, the ninth and final quality of the Spirit’s fruit in Galatians 5, completes the bowl of fruit dialogue that started nine days ago. God’s process of working in our lives, tilling and pruning, conforming us to the image of Christ can be uncomfortable at times. But the goal is for you and me to be like Jesus, imitating Him, bearing the Spirit’s fruit.

Even as born-again believers, our earthly tabernacles struggle with fleshly desires, sometimes wanting what we want and when we want it. Compulsions, wrong actions, excessiveness, and over-indulgence are choices; we choose what, how much, or how less. Self-control’s excuse sometimes shouts, “I can’t help it!” Really? Did God force any decision on you? Was it the devil who made you do or not do something? You and I open or shut the door of our actions; we alone hold the keys to the locked doors.

Remember, the enemy of your soul is always watching and listening, taking advantage of any unguarded doorway into your life that has the slightest opening, swooping in unannounced and sometimes undetected. But never give him credit for something he didn’t do. Attributing to the forces of darkness poor decisions and anything negative or ungodly in your life for which you are responsible gives that cunning serpent of Eden’s garden great satisfaction. 

Like tasty fruit that takes time to grow and ripen, the believer’s development and maturity of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control is a lifelong process. Perfected ripeness of the Spirit’s fruit happens as we yield to the Master Gardener, allowing God to do what is necessary as He conforms us into His Son’s character. 

Meek, Not Weak

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . meekness. . .” (Galatians 5:23)

Meekness, the eighth characteristic of the Spirit's fruit, often referred to as humility; is a tremendous strength under control. Jesus, exemplifying that temperament, was not easily provoked and showed great restraint when cruelly treated or insulted. This characteristic does not seek vengeance for wrongs suffered, and no one suffered more injustices than Jesus. But He knew His Father was Judge and Vindicator of all wrongdoings. Kindly treating unkind people is sometimes challenging, especially if you can exercise authority over them. We, as Christians, are called to a higher standard.

Dealing with family can often stir emotions that need specific attention. Jesus' siblings, when He first began His ministry, thought He was mentally disturbed. He could have stepped on a platform and proclaimed His God-given calling, demanding His rights and shaming them for their accusations. Instead, with love and compassion (meek, not weak), He submissively waited as His Father worked in their lives, changing their hearts. They learned the truth of their brother without Him forcing the issue. Jesus, fully God and man, was a tremendous force under control. He had the power to act but yielded to His Father’s authority. God wants the same from us. 

Just as the bit in a horse’s mouth controls its actions, allow God’s Spirit in you to take the reins of your life to guide you. If you feel a “pinch” when turning, stop and ask the Father for the right direction. Let Him right the wrongs that cross your path. A tree’s fruit does not “just happen;” it takes preparation, effort, and time for maturity. The same is true with the fruit of the Spirit. As you humbly invite the Master Gardener to work in and through you, yielding to His rule in your life, the Spirit’s unmistakable fruit matures, honoring God and blessing others.

Steadfast Faith

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . faith. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Do you believe God is who He says He is? According to Hebrews 11:6, we cannot please God without faith, the seventh characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. To go to God, you must believe that He is real—that He exists and rewards believers who diligently search for Him. It is imperative to trust God honors His word to serve Him faithfully.

Faith believes in and trusts God, walking with Him even though what lies ahead is unseen and He is invisible. God proves His children’s faith, whether weak or unwavering, putting us to the test. And, sometimes, the enemy of our soul stands ready to instigate trials that frustrate our faith, attacking from all sides. He sees how we respond to people and situations. Always on the prowl, he knows what deceives and aggravates us, what causes us to lose heart or temper, how we react under pressure, those strengths we boast of having. We must always be prepared, geared up, with faith to ward off his tactics to serve our God faithfully.

Paul writes in Ephesians 6:16 that faith is a crucial part of God’s armor that shields us from the enemies’ fiery darts he throws to wound and destroy. When faith is strong, your shield is big, guarding you. But when confidence in God wanes, trust shrinks, and you are vulnerable to self-deceit, and the enemy’s accusations, lies, and pitfalls. Authentic Christ-followers firmly stand when others try to discredit their character knowing, God knows the truth of their faithfulness.

Do others think of you as trustworthy, someone in whom one can confide? Or, by your inconsistent and mistrustful life-walk, do they steer clear of you? Christians with steadfast faith are faithful in word and deed to God, family, friends, and others; all else is vain deceit and the mark of ingenuine Christianity.

Freely Flowing Goodness

“For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . goodness. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Goodness is the sixth characteristic of the Spirit's fruit; it means to do and be good. However, this type of “goodness” not only does that which is good but stands with truth and steers clear from any appearance of evil. This “goodness” may reprimand and look to correct what appears not good or evil when needed. Goodness wants that which is correct, God’s “rightness.”

As we face situations where wrong actions are in play, and the need for “goodness” rises within us, we have a decision to make: Either do that which we know is right or let the wrong slide by unaddressed. Sometimes exercising “goodness” in situations causes discomfort, emotional distress, may even stir up anger; it will sometimes leave you labeled as “the bad guy.” Jesus didn’t allow a label to stop Him from overturning the moneychangers’ tables at the temple. Although those buying and selling were wrong and disagreed with His actions, Jesus did that which was right and pleasing to His Father. “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

In his twenty-third psalm, David was confident God’s goodness and mercy would follow him all his days. As a shepherd, David used the rod he carried for walking and leaning, thumping stubborn sheep, or warding off predators. His “goodness” used the staff to rescue wandering sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for us. Our freely flowing goodness happens when we are in right standing with God. Otherwise, our actions will stem from our viewpoint, creed, or standard on a matter or towards people. The more God reveals as we read and study His Word, the more He holds us accountable for the truths we learn. As we understand more clearly how to live the Christian life, to be more like Jesus, God holds us accountable to that standard of showing the Spirit’s fruit. 

Deliberate Kindness

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . gentleness. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Kindness, being thoughtful, gentle, compassionate, is the fifth characteristic of the Spirit's fruit. What more significant act of kind-heartedness is that God forgave us of our sins and made way for our salvation through His only Son, Jesus? Although we could not, and God does not expect us to duplicate that act of compassion towards humanity, we are to strive for being thoughtful, gentle, and caring towards others in our daily walk.

Is caring behavior easy? Not always. Because many people in our world today are unkind, we must choose deliberate kindness, acting Christ-like towards them. Acting like Jesus means when offended or cruelly treated, react with grace, dealing kindly with that person. We are to respond to others just as Jesus would have done. Extend the same undeserved grace God has extended to you many times.

Read what the apostle Paul said on the matter: “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20). The implication of heaping hot coals on a person’s head was not to inflict harm in retaliation. Just as intense heat is needed to separate impurities from precious metals, that person may be ashamed by your compassion and change their ways after experiencing your kindness. Your acts of grace can “burn off” their life’s junk. And even if they stay unchanged, you have freed yourself of bitterness that sometimes goes with wrongful treatment.

No matter how unkind or cruel people are, God created all of us in His image, and we should treat them accordingly, following Jesus’ example of displaying the Spirit’s fruit.

Enduring Patience

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . longsuffering. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Longsuffering (patience) is endurance, waiting on, and trusting God in times of difficulty concerning people, circumstances, or things. As the fourth characteristic of the Spirit’s fruit, patience is more than “putting up” with people; it is about reflecting the mercy God gives to you.

When offering God’s mercy to others, there is no place for a judgmental or critical attitude. God alone is Judge. Therein enters the need for forgiveness, a must to act patiently with some people. Those people may seem undeserving of mercy, but neither did you, and I didn’t, when God forgave us (over and over). Do you want enduring patience that bears more fruit? Show compassion and pardon towards others.

When God allows people and circumstances to shake your life, you are to respond by “bearing up” without whining or complaining, trusting God in every situation. Endurance comes by the trying of our faith (James 1:3). Patience believes God sees everything, is in control of all things, and He is everywhere. You are confident God deals with the people and conditions that rock your world. As you daily yield to, obey, and trust your Creator, you will reflect Jesus’ character in your thoughts and actions, producing the Spirit’s fruit.

Inner Peace

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Peace. The third characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit does not mean the absence of people and world conflicts but instead, a state of well-being, inner tranquility, present even amid the chaos and storms of life. This type of peace exists when the Master over the chaos and storms of life lives within you, and you have surrendered full access of yourself to Him.

What is it that disturbs or robs you of the Spirit’s peace? Worry? Insecurity? The unknown? Failure? Exhaustion? People? Everything opposed to inner peace is what the world throws at you to cause disorder and confusion in your life; sometimes, self is our worst enemy. Prepare yourself by delving into God’s Word; ground yourself in the Bible’s truths, and by faith, live them. 

In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul speaks of harmony with fellow believers, peace with the Lord, and peace in all circumstances. You should not be worried about anything but bring every concern and request with thanksgiving to God in prayer. In doing so, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. This truth is one of God’s promises to lock into your memory bank and heart.

Surrender and obedience to God the Father are crucial to experience His presence and peace. Paul said if you follow his example of following Jesus, the peace of God will be with you. A life of surrender, a life of obedience—a life of God’s peace (Philippians 4:4–9).

Unspeakable Joy

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

Joy, the third characteristic of the Spirit’s fruit, means rejoice, be glad, to celebrate. But sometimes you don’t “feel” like celebrating; times when discouragement settles in; you feel alone—no one cares. Even during these times, we are always to joy in the Lord. Why?

The apostle Peter praised believers who never saw Jesus (like us) for their love and steadfast faith because they believed and rejoiced with “unspeakable joy” for their salvation (1 Peter 1:8). The disciples who ministered with Jesus joyfully reported that demons were subject to them through His name (Luke 10:17). But Jesus said their joy was in the wrong place. Instead, they should rejoice because God recorded their names in heaven; that was a reason to celebrate.

When you experience life’s difficulties, you are to “count it all joy” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). Celebrate and believe God is in control and working through every situation. You may never realize this side of glory the impact your trials and sufferings have on others (or yourself). As His children surrendering to His authority, you and I must leave those matters with God, who always works them out for good according to His purposes. As He prunes our lives, reshaping us to produce kingdom fruit, trust Him. Though the pruning stings momentarily, Jesus said our joy would be complete.

Jesus paid the ultimate price, giving His life for you and me. When we surrender to His lordship, God records our names in the Lamb’s book of life. Jesus said that is reason to rejoice!

Unexplainable Love

 “For the fruit of the Spirit is love. . .” (Galatians 5:22)

God’s incredible love for humanity is so great that He gave His only Son to pay for our sins. Jesus died on the cross willingly, even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). With His last breaths, Jesus declared, “It is finished,” carrying out His Father’s redemptive plan. Jesus’ blood paid our sin debt in full, forever. Satan knew well who Jesus was and heard Him say He would rise again, but would He? Had the evil one known the impact of Jesus’ resurrection, he would not have been so anxious for Him to die. Death could not keep Jesus captive in the ground, and because of His resurrection, Jesus gave us victory over sin, death, Satan, and the grave. Because of Jesus’ blood sacrifice, God, the Holy Spirit, resides within every believer, guiding and empowering us daily on this side of eternity. The day our bodies of flesh perish, we immediately join our Father, Jesus, and loved ones in heaven. But until that day—unless He snatches away all believers, alive or in graves, to meet Him in the air—Paul writes that our lives should produce fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit’s love is not an emotional feeling but God-like love—or agape. This fruit-of-the-Spirit-love is an intense affection towards God and benevolence towards humanity, and God commands Christians to love everyone. Loving others does not mean only to endure them, but desire God’s best even for the unlovable: the person who lies and cheats, the rude, unkind, and selfish, the one who hurt you deeply. And we are to love ourselves too (Matthew 22:39) but with a healthy, not prideful love, even if you think you are unworthy. The lack of self-love may be a reason why some people struggle with loving others. But we cannot love some people (or ourselves) without God’s help. When we ask Him to agape through us, we will respond to people or situations in a way pleasing to our Creator.

In First Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul describes love with similarities to the fruit of the Spirit: Love is patient and kind, doesn’t envy, isn’t boastful, proud, or rude, regards others rather than self, isn’t easily angered, doesn’t keep a record of wrongdoings, grieves over evil but rejoices with the truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, and never fails. Agape is the common denominator of the Spirit’s fruit.

As each of us differs in many ways, it is sometimes challenging to love others. But no matter who they are, we are to love with God’s love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:8).  Unexplainable love made way for Jesus to die in our place and rise as Victor over death’s sting. Because of God’s love, we will live forever with Him as God’s child because of Jesus’ resurrection.

Life's Fruit Bowl

 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22 NLT)

When you see a bowl of apples, oranges, grapes, pears, bananas, kiwi, peaches, plums, and cherries, do you say, “What a beautiful bowl of fruits” or “What a beautiful bowl of fruit?” The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and activity in our lives is fruit, not fruits of the Spirit, but fruit. This divine fruit should mark every believer’s life; there are no exceptions. We have no options to pick and choose which characteristics to embrace or disregard, especially when dealing with certain people or circumstances.

Look at your life’s fruit bowl. Is spiritual fruit missing or dormant? If so, ask yourself the daunting question, “Why?” Have you made excuses for its absence or lack of freshness? Spiritual fruit brings beauty and health to yourself, others and pleases our Father.

As God develops fruit within you, it will not reach maturity’s perfection until you meet Jesus face to face. Until then, allow the God who created you and loves you to till your life’s soil through trials, triumphs, disappointments, joys, and sorrows. Through these, He brings you to “ripeness,” displaying and sharing the fruit of His presence, working through you as His hands, feet, and voice to people walking in darkness.

Party Time

 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to the Father’s plan] . . .” (Matthew 27:50 AMP)

What rejoicing! What a celebration! Finally, his greatest adversary was gone.

False accusations brought the Son of God sorrow, beatings, humiliation, and, finally, death’s cross. But God, sovereign over all events, knew beforehand that would happen. Satan and his minions watched with joy thinking they won a great victory, waiting with anticipation as their opponent drew His last breath and died. Elated, they saw Him taken off the cross and laid in a tomb, the entrance sealed with a huge stone. Did Satan think evil prevailed, and he was now in charge?

False accusers did not send Jesus to the cross. Nor did Satan. It was sin, yours and mine making the cross necessary. It was God’s love for humanity, His redemptive plan, and Jesus’ willingness to die for us that supplied our only hope. Had Satan known what would happen after the death of Christ, if he were all-knowing as God, would he have been so celebratory? Little did he realize his party time would be short-lived. Because of His death and resurrection, Jesus defeated death and the grave. No longer bound by human flesh, He would with resurrection power indwell and empower every believer—if Satan had only known. But he did not. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Satan is a defeated foe.

Rise, child of God, and walk victoriously. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice and the gift of God’s Holy Spirit within you, you have every resource needed for this life. You need only tap into it. When this world’s evils and the devil causes you grief, remind him (and yourself) that Jesus’ shed blood saved you from eternal damnation. Remind him that because of Jesus’ resurrection, you have a home in heaven with God the Father and His Son. Remind him that he and his followers will spend eternity, separated from the Creator of everything that is, in the lake of fire. Remind him that you are a sinner saved by grace, now God’s beloved child. 

Die to Live

 “. . .Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)

The smallest of seeds can yield a beautiful harvest. But they must first die to what they were in the packet and lie buried in rich soil before any fruit is noticeable.

Are you feeling stale and unproductive in your Christian walk? A fruitful life is stunted by clinging to the flesh's passions; the old sin nature must die. If it doesn’t, the ungodly tendencies in you rule your spirit. According to Galatians 5:19–21, the results of that inaction include sexual immorality, impurity, lust, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and “other such sins.”

Do you think I’m not like that? These destructive characteristics are not an exhaustive list of “bad fruit” but evidence of a life not surrendered to the lordship of Christ. There are “other such sins” like these. It doesn’t take a horrible sin to separate you from God. Have you told a lie, been jealous, envious, or selfish? Of course, you have; we all have. The point is no one who continues a lifestyle of the old sin nature can inherit the kingdom of God (v. 21).

Jesus lived a selfless, sinless life, dying for our sins so we could live. But we must first die (to our selfish, sinful ways) to live in right standing with the Father, to spend eternity with Him. Once surrendered to Him, the Holy Spirit indwells and empowers His children to live with integrity, godliness, and moral character. Evidence of our new life is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (v. 22). As we surrender to and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, victory over the old sin nature is ours.