During the past eight days of this reading plan we have focused on the fact that God has called us to produce what the Bible calls, Spirit Fruit. We’ve hit love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, and more.
And the truth we have been working from has been..
If we are “in” Jesus then He is able to work certain things “out” through our lives.
Good things. Not bad things.
Today, we end this study by focusing on “Not bad things…”
Good things and bad things don’t balance each other out. God doesn’t erase a sin from your account based on the fact that you did one equal but opposite good thing. That’t the Buddhistic Karma approach to life and its faulty.
Our God is so great and loving that He gave us Jesus. Jesus gave us His life. So that we could have new life in Him. And so that all of those sins we rack up when we are living for ourselves would be forgiven.
We don’t stop doing bad things because we are good people.
We don’t stop doing bad things so that Jesus will save us.
We stop doing bad things because Jesus is good and because He saved us even when we were bad.
Stop. Wait a minute. Take my cup pour some (sorry, got carried away there for a minute). We need to pause and make sure we grasp exactly what we are talking about when we say “bad.” This is not some mom telling little Johnny he was bad because He stomped all over his big brothers lego city. This is far worse. This is us (the created) rebelling against God (the creator). We have all done it. We have all offended God. And any offense to God is BAD!
Again, the amazing thing about our God is that He doesn’t wait for us to get good. He sent His only Son to be good in our place!
Read Galatians 5:22-23 again…but now read it in its context HERE. Notice the huge difference between the good things that Jesus’ Spirit makes possible in us versus what we are naturally drawn to? We can’t live and produce good fruit apart from Him. On our own, we can only produce bad, good for nothing, rotten fruit…no matter how hard we try.
H/W CHALLENGE
One last time, be honest with yourself about the “fruit” your life is producing.
Is it good?
Is it bad?
PRAYER
Using your own words, open up to God about what bad things are still holding you back from living the life God has for you. Share your secrets with Him. He can handle it. Share your doubts and fears with Him. He can handle them. Ask God, by His Spirit, to make your life one that is enjoyable for you and honorable to Him. Ask it in the name of Jesus.
<< DAY 22
