Fruit is yummy.
Preface to this post: I am in no way shape or form a theologian that has figured out the bible, I am just a 17 year old girl that sometimes just gets smacked in the face by the Word of God and desires more than anything to understand the heart of my Father.
This morning I rolled over as my alarm clock was blaring, hit the off button and grabbed my phone as many Americans do now. I opened my bible app because I had actually woke up on time and the verse of the day was this:
Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love the neighbor as yourself."
Awesome! I loved that word and felt so encouraged to begin my day so I clicked the convenient button that said "Read Whole Chapter" and what I didn't know was that I should have just put my seat belt on and prepared for a heart check from Jesus, aka "getting smacked in the face by the word of God" (this is a GREAT but TOUGH thing most times). As Galatians 5 goes on Paul begins to talk about "walking in the spirit" and the Fruits of the Spirit.
I think in my life personally I have never read this with such open eyes toward myself, especially because I think I always bypassed the bad things that Paul warns against and just jumped right over to the fun and nice Fruits of the Spirit that I learned about in children's church that went hand in hand with a very fun song. However, this morning I found the beginning of this section more important than I ever had.
Paul talks about in verses 19-21 about the things that will prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God. These things he lists are:
-Sensuality
-Impurity
-Sexual Immorality
-Idolatry
-Sorcery
-Enmity
-Strife
-Fits of Anger
-Rivalries
-Dissensions
-Jealousy
-Divisions
-Envy
-Drunkenness
-Orgies
-& things like these.
Wow, yes. That is a lot. When you look up the definitions to many of these words, they become more of a reality than just some big sin word. While some of those things listed may seem far fetched from our daily lives and things that only "chronic sinners" take part in (no.), so many of those are things that even Christians, at least myself, allow to slip into their lives DAILY. I think this is why I had such a "wake up call" (punny) this morning as I read this because some of those are things that I have allowed in my life recently without even recognizing it and I realize that I allow myself to justify them because "I am human."......No. Particularly in my life right now they have been the fits of anger (from stress and emotions built-up), jealousy and a few more in my past. These things cannot be justified simply because "I am human". There is a reason that Paul warns against them. I believe that he knew what he was talking about. He warned against these things because if we live a life like that, indulging in these things, we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I guess you could say, this morning I found myself thanking God for His wonderful grace and mercy.
Paul goes on to tell us the things we can live by to inherit the Kingdom of God. These are:
-Love
-Joy
-Peace
-Patience
-Kindness
-Goodness
-Gentleness
-Faithfulness
-Self Control
This list is much more refreshing and they bring joy to God.
The next verse says "And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires"
So, although some of those things listed in the warning above may seem like they are fun, Christ beckons us to get rid of those each day or at least for me, it is daily, and choose to live in the fruits of the Spirit as we grow near to Him. He does this for our benefit, which is sometimes hard to grasp. So next time you have to make a choice between worldly "fun" and the fruits of the Spirit, choose the fruits. They are there only because your Father who loves you outrageously wants to be closer to you. (Fruit sidenote: I have recently tried chocolate covered pineapple and it's wonderful...but not as good as peace. :) )
"If we live by the Spirit, let also us walk by the Spirit." Verse 25
To me, this next verse says "If you are saved, act like it." So there is my heart check that Jesus delivered to me this morning which came right on time as everyone in my school seems to be so excited about parties on Saturday after prom, which I won't lie..I want to join sometimes and I almost did but, I want to live in a way that brings me closer to the man who desperately loves me more than anything (and loves you the same).
Jesus is pretty cool and continues each day to push me to the next limit or love on me more.
Keep on keepin' on even when choices are hard. Everyone wants to please others, you just need to be the outcast that chooses to please God.
This morning I rolled over as my alarm clock was blaring, hit the off button and grabbed my phone as many Americans do now. I opened my bible app because I had actually woke up on time and the verse of the day was this:
Galatians 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love the neighbor as yourself."
Awesome! I loved that word and felt so encouraged to begin my day so I clicked the convenient button that said "Read Whole Chapter" and what I didn't know was that I should have just put my seat belt on and prepared for a heart check from Jesus, aka "getting smacked in the face by the word of God" (this is a GREAT but TOUGH thing most times). As Galatians 5 goes on Paul begins to talk about "walking in the spirit" and the Fruits of the Spirit.
I think in my life personally I have never read this with such open eyes toward myself, especially because I think I always bypassed the bad things that Paul warns against and just jumped right over to the fun and nice Fruits of the Spirit that I learned about in children's church that went hand in hand with a very fun song. However, this morning I found the beginning of this section more important than I ever had.
Paul talks about in verses 19-21 about the things that will prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God. These things he lists are:
-Sensuality
-Impurity
-Sexual Immorality
-Idolatry
-Sorcery
-Enmity
-Strife
-Fits of Anger
-Rivalries
-Dissensions
-Jealousy
-Divisions
-Envy
-Drunkenness
-Orgies
-& things like these.
Wow, yes. That is a lot. When you look up the definitions to many of these words, they become more of a reality than just some big sin word. While some of those things listed may seem far fetched from our daily lives and things that only "chronic sinners" take part in (no.), so many of those are things that even Christians, at least myself, allow to slip into their lives DAILY. I think this is why I had such a "wake up call" (punny) this morning as I read this because some of those are things that I have allowed in my life recently without even recognizing it and I realize that I allow myself to justify them because "I am human."......No. Particularly in my life right now they have been the fits of anger (from stress and emotions built-up), jealousy and a few more in my past. These things cannot be justified simply because "I am human". There is a reason that Paul warns against them. I believe that he knew what he was talking about. He warned against these things because if we live a life like that, indulging in these things, we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I guess you could say, this morning I found myself thanking God for His wonderful grace and mercy.
Paul goes on to tell us the things we can live by to inherit the Kingdom of God. These are:
-Love
-Joy
-Peace
-Patience
-Kindness
-Goodness
-Gentleness
-Faithfulness
-Self Control
This list is much more refreshing and they bring joy to God.
The next verse says "And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires"
So, although some of those things listed in the warning above may seem like they are fun, Christ beckons us to get rid of those each day or at least for me, it is daily, and choose to live in the fruits of the Spirit as we grow near to Him. He does this for our benefit, which is sometimes hard to grasp. So next time you have to make a choice between worldly "fun" and the fruits of the Spirit, choose the fruits. They are there only because your Father who loves you outrageously wants to be closer to you. (Fruit sidenote: I have recently tried chocolate covered pineapple and it's wonderful...but not as good as peace. :) )
"If we live by the Spirit, let also us walk by the Spirit." Verse 25
To me, this next verse says "If you are saved, act like it." So there is my heart check that Jesus delivered to me this morning which came right on time as everyone in my school seems to be so excited about parties on Saturday after prom, which I won't lie..I want to join sometimes and I almost did but, I want to live in a way that brings me closer to the man who desperately loves me more than anything (and loves you the same).
Jesus is pretty cool and continues each day to push me to the next limit or love on me more.
Keep on keepin' on even when choices are hard. Everyone wants to please others, you just need to be the outcast that chooses to please God.
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