Where have I been? Why haven’t I written a new blog for so long?! Confession time! I have been struggling with time management. My Dad once told me that the older you get, the faster time seems to fly. He was so right! It is like the hours in my day are somehow vanishing. Maybe because I am slower or (of this I am certain), the world is so much faster; whatever it is, it can be unsettling.
Unfortunately, many things seem to be vanishing, or at least diminishing in today’s world; human contact (whether personal customer service or in-person worship), the love of the written word (both ours and worst yet - God’s), and even our sense of normalcy – which is basically whatever keeps us in our comfort zone.
I recently gave a break-out session called “Journey to Joy” at a women’s ministry conference for my church denomination. The class went over very well, and I am sure it was due to the topic. The other popular topic was on anxiety. Christians today are struggling with such things as keeping joy in their lives, not succumbing to fear and anxiety, and experiencing peace.
What is going on in the body of Christ? I have some thoughts.
Are you familiar with the Fruit of the Spirit found in the Bible?
If not, in Galatians 5 we read:
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a.
Whenever a verse begins with such words as “but, for this reason or therefore,” it is a clue to look back at the previous verses for context. So, let’s back up a moment to the verses before the list of fruit.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Galatians 5:19-21a.
Which list sounds more like the world we live in? I think most would agree that that world around us is full of the latter. But what about in the lives of those that claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior?
While we may not see ourselves in, what we would consider, the worst traits in the latter list; how much are we (and others) seeing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? It seems that more and more, we as Christians are being affected by the world around us; and more and more, it is getting harder to differentiate between believers and non-believers. Maybe this is why so many give “hypocrisy in the church” as their reason for rejecting God and His Word.
What then is the answer? Paul saw it as spiritual wisdom. I agree. Paul writes:
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 1:18-20.
If we want to be seen as “His holy people,” we need to recommit to our relationship with Jesus, seek spiritual wisdom through prayer and the study of His word, focus on living by the Spirit and nurture the growth of His fruit in our lives.
Galatians continues:
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:19-25.
What does this look like for you? Which of the Spirit’s fruit have diminished in your life? What can you do to keep it from vanishing altogether?
For me, it is (among a couple of others) self-control. Not the type where I need to restrain from hostility, quarreling, or outbursts of anger; but taking control of the precious time God has given me to deepen my relationship with Him. In doing so, I know from experience, that I will recapture those diminishing hours and hopefully use them to do what is really important – sharing Jesus and God’s word with others.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
I pray God’s word will encourage you also to commit or recommit to a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus, so you may receive what you need from Him to live life overflowing with the fruit of His Spirit!
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