The other day we talked about the Fruits of the Spirit and how you cannot force them, they grow by themselves when you start cutting away the dead branches of worldy things.
But it’s difficult for me. I don’t just want to, NOT DO, WHAT IS NOT RIGHT… I want to change my way of doing things.
Not because I have to, but because I want to… I want to be a Better Husband, a Better Father, a Better Co-worker, a Better Person…
But… by not doing things, it is sometimes difficult to gauge if you are actually getting anywhere… I didn’t eat that packet of chips today… did I lose weight? I can’t tell…
So we try to do “things” to earn our “Fruit”…
We come to the men’s group, we go to church, we go to bible study. But it isn’t fruit and doesn’t result in fruit…
It is just leaves on the tree…
Going to church – is leaves… not fruit
Doing bible study, is leaves… not fruit
But they do help to re-allign your thinking. They do help to keep your focus where it needs to stay. It does grow your relationships with others…. There is nothing bad in it and a lot of good in it.
Peter, (The great stumbler… the one that denied Jesus three times before the cross) has some advice:
“Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power…”
(2 Peter 1:3 TPT)
So Peter say, we are saved, 100% by Grace, through the Faith we place in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
But…
Peter is also practical, He has learnt from his own strugles and challenges, so he gives us a few tips on being better:
“So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness, [Integrity]
and to goodness add understanding,
and to understanding add the strength of self-control,
and to self-control add patient endurance,
and to patient endurance add godliness,
and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters,
and to mercy toward others add unending love.
Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately.”
(2 Peter 1:5-8 TPT)
For this reason, Peter also says, CHECK YOUR MOTIVATION:
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,”
(2 Peter 1:10 NIV)
By the way, that doesn’t mean you will never make a mistake or never fall… just that when you do fall, you will get back up and continue. Every fall, every failure, is a chance to learn, and to get better!
(Count it all joy…)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
(James 1:2-4 NIV)
But here’s the thing… When you fail, you have to return and try again. When you fall… you have to get up.
The greatest risk to our families, to our children, The greatest threat, to the spiritual wellbeing of your family, are you… unchecked!
If you leave the gates open… the gates are open!
YOU CANNOT PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN, FROM INFLUENCES YOU WILL NOT PROTECT YOURSELF FROM…
Whatever influences you, will influence them.
What are you consuming?
What are you listening to?
What are you viewing?
What is shaping your thinking?
Whether you try and hide it, whether you try and and control it… know that whatever influences you will influence them.
We might be able to control our tongue, and hold our speech… but does our lives speak Love, Patience, and Compassion?
“They promise others freedom, yet they themselves are slaves to corruption, for people are slaves to whatever overcomes them.”
(1 Peter 2:19 TPT)
This cut me deep, Shrek!
I realised that there are things I am allowing in my life, with whatever excuse, that are not uplifting, that are not beneficial, that needs to go.
Having them may not be sin, yet… But losing them will be better.
I am pretty sure that as you sit there, the Holy Spirit might be pushing something. Stirring something in your heart.
(It’s probably the thing you just made an excuse about as I said that 😉 … yes, that thing)
Do me a favour and speak to God about it.
And remember Peter’s life. Remember his struggles and heed his words and lessons hard learnt:
