Today's Devotional
February 28, 2003
Subject: Squeeze The Fruit
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
I always seem to run into really "spiritual" people who, after they
know that I'm a Christian, will ask me the question, "Have you been filled
with the Holy Spirit?" Although I generally know what they're talking about,
I usually ask them what they are specifically talking about. It's amazing
how often the responses have nothing to do with exhibiting the character
traits that are identified above. Instead, the answers always seem to talk
about having a particular experience. However the scripture makes clear
that a tree is known by its fruit.
When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent some of the disciples to Christ
to ask if He was the messiah or should they wait for another. Christ's response
to the disciples was, "tell him what you've seen me do." Christ referred
to how He lived His life, a la the fruit He produced. So too it is with us.
Not only should we produce fruit, but the best way to tell what kind of fruit
we are producing often is to squeeze us.
Now many can appear to produce the fruit when things are going fine and there
are no problems, but when we get into the tight circumstances of life, the
fruit is being squeezed. When the fruit is squeezed, everyone will see what
kind of juice comes out. When Christ was squeezed by life and put on the
cross, He still produced love and forgiveness. What about us? When life
puts the squeeze on us, is it love that comes out or is it hatred, animosity,
jealousy, envy...?
I say if you want to see what kinda tree it is, not only should you check
the fruit, but also wait to see what kinda juice is produced when it's squeezed.
Carlen
