Recently in the news we saw that of tons of butter was pulled from shop shelves and discarded because the packaging did not say that the butter contained milk.
Now… I want to say something about basic education. If citizens don’t know where butter comes from… we have failed our children! But worse to me is the person that is in charge, an educated individual probably with a university degree. They ordered this action because they didn’t know where butter comes from?!
But to be fair, I was already an adult when I learnt that Venison, is basically any kind of game meat, and veal is not some kind of a fish… so we all have gaps. We all have things to learn!
So then… Where does Fruit come from?
Jesus says:
“By their fruit you will recognize them.”
(Matthew 7:16 NIV)
And Paul speaks of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, (Love, Joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control), where does this fruit come from? How does this work?
Like the milk & butter question, it seems obvious, but sometimes we need some direct input.
Jesus says:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5 NIV)
Basically it’s quite simple. If we keep ourselves close to Christ, we will bear the fruit.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
(1 John 1:7 NIV)
You see. This is the trick. The lie that is so amazingly close to the truth that it fools us all.
Living a good life, chasing the virtues, is good and right and commendable. Who will say that having more patience is bad? That being kind is wrong? Nobody!
But… The milk doesn’t come from the shop. The milk comes from the cow!
The Fruits of the Spirit is a by product of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
The more we are in Him, the more we become like Him. So in an effort to become “good Christians” we chase the Fruits of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit instead of simply seeking to spend time with Jesus.
How sneaky is the devil? Diverting our eyes to a good, virtuous, moral life… just a little bit away from Christ.
Is there a part of your life that Jesus is not involved in? That’s where you are going to get tripped up!
Close your phone, close your eyes, and speak to Jesus. Ask Him to tell you the first place you need to shine His light into…
Today.
Be Blessed!
