What Kind Of Fruit Is Hanging From Your Branches?

My Utmost For His Highest

“When we first begin to form a habit, we are fully aware of it. There are times when we are aware of becoming virtuous and godly, but this awareness should only be a stage we quickly pass through as we grow spiritually. If we stop at this stage, we will develop a sense of spiritual pride. The right thing to do with godly habits is to immerse them in the life of the Lord until they become such a spontaneous expression of our lives that we are no longer aware of them. Our spiritual life continually causes us to focus our attention inwardly for the determined purpose of self-examination, because each of us has some qualities we have not yet added to our lives. […] Love means that there are no visible habits— that your habits are so immersed in the Lord that you practice them without realizing it.” CHAMBERS

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  That is the purpose of these devotions.  We all need encouragement.  How many times during the week does someone talk to you and encourage you in your faith?  Excluding your pastor or Sunday School teacher.  I need to be encouraged every day.  I need to be encouraged to let the light of Jesus shine through me and not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2)

So what would you say is your spontaneous expression?  The one that people see every day.  It will be expression of what you love.  As you live out your life, responding to situations and to other people, both good people and bad people, do others see Jesus or do they see what they see in people who are not Christians? 

Galatians 5:19,22-25  “The acts of the flesh are obvious: […] hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness[…] 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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Think of it as fruit hanging from the branches of a tree.  Acts or fruit of the flesh are sour apples .. fruit of the Spirit are peaches.  If people look at your branches, what will they see?  It is hard to prove you are a peach tree when they see sour apples.  Draw close to God .. let your love for Him be your focus .. and let the Spirit of God have His way in your life.  Let the spontaneous expression in your life be Jesus. ELGIN

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)