Good Fruit
Wednesday July 17, 2013
The Bible tells us that when God's Spirit lives in us, our lives will demonstrate it by qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control. God works in us so we can choose and act in ways that please God and satisfy our souls. One of the ways we please God is to say "yes" or "no" at the right time.
We live in a time and culture that could most easily be labeled as self-indulgent rather than self-controlled. One principle that appears to operate in our lives in this 21st Century is, “If it feels good, do it.” God desires for us to have a rewarding and fulfilling life. Surprisingly, He tells us that in order to have that, we will sometimes have to deny ourselves some immediate pleasures.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).
To reap a good harvest of joy and satisfaction in life may mean some long, dark times struggling with temptation. While those moments are difficult, particularly since we seem to be the one paying the price, there are rich rewards to be reaped when we sow the seeds of self-control. When we heed God’s direction and allow His Spirit to mature in us the fruit of self-control we will be blessed in this life and also be a blessing to others.
A summer garden teaches us this lesson. Weeds spring up quickly. Good crops grow more slowly and must be tended steadily, even before we can see anything sprout. Weeds usually have shallow roots that are easily pulled up when they are young. However, if we don't pull them out regularly, they will crowd out and destroy the good crops. We need to continually examine our lives in the light of God's Word and say "no" to those things that crowd out the good in us. We need to say "yes" to those things that don't seem to be doing well right now but, with attention and time, will actually grow us into a person with strong character. If we will be faithful to tend the good and weed out the bad, we will be rewarded with a wonderful personal harvest.
But we belong to the day. So let us control ourselves. Let us put the armor of faith and love on our chest. Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIRV)
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