We’ve all have come across those in our lives we would consider “fake”. Those who speak one thing but their actions say another. We’ve all found friends who would be better categorized as “friendly” if anything. I think we have a tendency to superficially examine the intentions of others, forgetting to look for substance. Likewise, we tend to place an unwarranted emphasis on our own actions, forgetting to ultimately examine our fruits. And if you are wondering what fruit I could be referring to, that of course would be the fruits of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
To be honest I was inspired to write this blog after agonizing while trying to decipher the intentions of another. For quite some time I was uneasy about our interaction, in my gut I felt as if something wasn’t right. But upon examining the actions of this individual I found nothing wrong, so I relied on those judgments. Through prayer I was eventually inspired to examine his fruits and to compare them to those of the Spirit. With this new standard I quickly realized that this person did not have my best interest at heart. Scripture tell us:
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” Matthew 7: 16-18
I had come up my own superficial standards. I placed emphasis on seemingly positive actions, forgetting to look for substance. I realized that though his speech portrayed peace, gentleness, and kindness, his actions did not produce such fruits.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I had been assessing myself in this same manner. Had I become satisfied by all my “good works” forgetting to carefully examine my own heart and intentions? I challenge you to ask yourself this same question. Do you show love and self-control or does out of your heart flow fruits of jealousy, selfishness, and strife? In your Christian walk you may look and act the part, but are you producing His fruits or are you the bad apple?
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” Galatians 5:19-23
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. …” Matthew 7:22
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
Twitter: @PaigeAHenry
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