Fruit Study: What's Love Got To Do With It

So last week, I did a short introduction to this Bible Study. I want  to open up discussion, to open the Word of God, and to find what it means to live in the Spirit. Lets start by looking at the Scripture we are studying. Galations 5:19-26

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 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.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 2o Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We live in a world that is pretty well described in the first three verses of this passage. Its pretty easy to identify these different "flesh acts" in our world today. Sometimes, its overwhelming because its feels like everywhere we turn one of these is on display. So what is the alternative? 

We have been called out of the world. As soon as you commit yourself to Jesus you become aware of your spirit. Rebirth. It was once dead but now has come alive with the knowledge of Jesus and the truth of Salvation. So the battle begins, you are still flesh, you are still human. Now, having been reborn you start a process to be transformed every day. You see, you are no longer apart of the group described in the first 3 verses. You have been redeemed. 

It's fitting that Love is the first fruit on the list. Let's be honest, love is nonexistent these days. Not real love anyway. The divorce rate, combined with child neglect, selfishness and the list goes on is proof that we live in a cold world. Love comes at a price with most people. If it or they don't make me happy then I'm out. I'm not just talking about relationships here people, I'm talking about overall attitude and culture. Love is not about what we do for others anymore or show others anymore, its about what makes us happy. 

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold. :

 Matthew 24:12

This pretty much describes the current state of affairs we find ourselves in. Let's really quickly refer to 1 Corinthians 13. What love really is.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

Love is the beginning. It is the first fruit because out of it flows everything. Love doesn't think about itself, ever. It is NEVER about you. 

Now when the Word talks about fruit it is describing an outward evidence of what the Holy Spirit is doing in you. Love like this isn't something that comes naturally. Humans of course have an enormous ability to love and give love. Often our desire to satisfy ourselves trumps the potential in us to give unconditional love.God created in us this ability to love like this. So doesn't it make sense that knowing Him and being filled with His Holy Spirit is the only way to show the its fullness in our lives?

So there is the missing link. Know God, know love. 

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:7-10

Often, we use Jesus' ultimate sacrifice to describe the fullness of love. We need to be living sacrifices, choosing to know God everyday. Allowing the Holy Spirit to  teach us to love at all times.

  

The world often tells you to take care of yourself, love yourself, make sure you are okay first. In reality shouldn't we be allowing God to take care of us, to love us, to make sure we are okay? Shouldn't we trust Him to keep us? If we do that I think we can start understanding how to produce love. Allow the Holy Spirit to confront the areas in your life where you may be putting yourself first. Allow yourself to know God in a way that will help you understand what love really is and how to produce it in your life. 

Something New

For the next couple weeks I'm going to try something new. I love God and I love the Bible. I love to observe my world. I love to apply the word of God to the reality of the world around me. So for the next several weeks I'm going to do a series. I am simply going to compare the fruits of the spirit to the fruits of the world. I encourage you to follow me and invite others to follow me as well. I want to do this study and show readers that there are pretty clear differences. 

What has brought this on is an observation of the clear choices people have to make on a daily basis in their lives. I have choices to make every moment. Choices to make in my attitudes, in my actions, and in my habits. I have the opportunity to make life altering choices every moment and I want to make the right ones. So today I'm going to leave you with the introduction to the passage we will be looking at.

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16,17

Stay tuned because next week we are discussing LOVE! That's the first one. I'm really excited about it. 

Hungry and Thirsty

Today, I was thinking about how it feels when I don't spend time reading the Bible or Praying. It gave me my idea for this weeks blog.

You see, there was a time in my life where I could go without reading the Bible and praying. GASP! I know, it seems kind of crazy to say. It started in Bible college where I was so immersed in Bible study, and chapel services that I found it easy to put personal time with God on the back burner. I got out of the habit and then struggled with it for years after. I was constantly praying and asking God to forgive me for not praying and not reading. It had become legalistic in my mind and I felt guilty about it a lot. I made up all kinds of excuses. I have no time. I'm to tired or to busy. At the end of the day, I would feel so guilty and have no desire to even try to spend time with God.

I began to feel really far away, really empty. I knew why, but I was afraid I was going to fail. I was afraid I was never going to get it right. I would say I was going to do it and be good for a couple weeks. Then my schedule would throw me off  and then I was back where I started. I was frustrated and feeling guilty.

Then something changed. I'll explain in a moment, but first I want to say that I just started really simple. I got an iphone. What does that have to do with a devotional and prayer life you ask? Well, I got a Bible app on my phone and it would remind me to read my Bible everyday. It was like an electronic accountability partner. My phone would beep at me and I would be reminded. I didn't do it everyday at first, but over time I began to feel it when I hadn't done it. I felt...hungry.

The emptiness that I had for the years that I had neglected to make time for the Lord was being filled. My malnourished soul was day by day being replenished. I was hearing from God, I was learning more about Him. All alone, I had formed opinions about God and what He thought of me based on partial knowledge, not the truth of His word. He was showing me who He really was and opening my eyes to see truth. The crazy part was, I had allowed myself to become anorexic in my relationship with God. When I started to read His word consistently and pray I did it in small amounts. Almost like a baby drinking milk. I was at the beginning again.

Today, my Bible app still helps me, but rarely do I go a day without spending time with God. The reason why is because I literally feel hungry and thirsty. I'll get to the end of my day and if I haven't read or prayed, I feel it. It comes down to this. It is about connecting with God himself. When I was young, I had deep meaningful experiences with God that solidified my hope and my faith in His truth. Those experiences were like a really expensive meal that I couldn't possibly pay for everyday. Example, when Bill and I were on our honeymoon, we had a 5 course meal at a very expensive restaurant. I mean like 100 dollars a plate, harp player in the background, Bill had to wear a suit jacket, and me an evening dress. It was no joke. There is no way we could have paid for a meal like that every day. It's the same with God, He gives us amazing once in a lifetime experiences with Him but that doesn't keep us connected. We have to eat everyday. We have to drink everyday.

There is no special formula and in truth, I started by taking 5 minutes a day. Now I can't go a day without thinking about it. I can't go a day without feeling my need for God. I can't go a day without praying. I used to think I could go a day without and maybe I could, but the key to my devotional life now is, I don't want to go a day without Him. I want to know Him more, know His word, and know His spirit is with me when I pray.

I challenge those who take time to read my blog, if there is anything you can do for yourself, for your walk with God it's take the time for Him. It doesn't matter where you start, it doesn't matter how you failed in the past, there is no right way. Its just a choice to get that app, pick up that Bible, or go to that Bible study. Your soul needs Him, you are hungry and thirsty. Feed your self!

John 4:13,14 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst."

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

*If you don't know where to start on your spiritual diet I suggest reading plans on your Bible app. Often it's the 'Where do I begin' question that stumps us.