“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
-Galatians 5:22 NKJV
As a believer in Jesus, I truly want the Holy Spirit’s fruit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, and goodness—to be who I am.
But time and again my actions and reactions to people, and the thoughts of my heart reveal that I am sorely lacking. I ask the Lord to forgive me, praying for His fruit to win out, but more often than not, it feels as if I’m circling back to come face to face with the same bad responses and attitudes again.
Paul laments about his struggle with this in Romans 7:15-25. To paraphrase, he says, I do what I don’t want to do and don’t do what I know I should do. And with the question, Who should rescue me from this wretchedness? Paul answers his and our dilemma.
“Thanks be to God—it is through Messiah Yeshua [Jesus] our Lord!”
-Romans 7:25, tlv
Jesus—not His fruit—is the answer.
How many times have we all prayed to be more loving, more joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, and good? While those are not bad things to pray for, our desire should be for Jesus to be more at home in our hearts. (See John 14:23.)
For when He is at home in our hearts, He cleans out the clutter of hidden, unknown, and willful sin by pushing it all to the surface. (See Psalm 19:12-13.) Our job is not to struggle with whatever the Lord reveals, but to confess it. He then takes it away. (See 1 John 1:9.)
What a marvelous miracle it is when we witness our own hearts being transformed by
His grace.
Related Post: The Impasse of God’s Grace
When we rely on Jesus to make us one with Him (see John 17:21), the beautiful gifts of His love, His patience, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, and goodness can now shine through. These are the good works that glorify God.
“In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
-Matthew 5:16, tlv
The beauty we have longingly ached to see when looking in the mirror has always been Jesus.
Heavenly Father, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Your Son, Jesus, may He—with joyful praise—shine through our every thought, word, and action. For Jesus is our hope. He IS the way, the truth, and the life.* Father, may You be glorified. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.
Christmas blessings!
Kimberly
Be Thou My Vision
“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”
TEXT: Ancient Irish Hymn, translated by Mary E. Byrne;
Versified by Eleanor H. Hull
