Naked Fruit

Its time to get back to the basics. Yes, I graduated from Bible College and I do probably have a lot of knowledge from there. I'm still working on the wisdom part though. But honestly, who cares about that. Do people really care that I know the difference between Homiletics and Hermeneutics? Non-believers sure as heck don't care, and most Christians probably couldn't give a rip either. Am I going to have to explain the difference between pre-millennial, post-millennial, and a-millennial views before I am allowed into Heaven? No, Jesus don't care so neither do I! I'm not trying to say that education isn't important. Believe me if I thought that I woulda dropped out a long time ago! But it isn't the most important. I can read out of a book that Christians should lay hands on the sick and pray for them, I can even read true-life stories about people who have seen miracles performed this way. But who cares if I have never actually layed hands on someone, prayed for them and seen them healed?! It means nothing. This little nugget of truth came to me a week or two ago after talking with Erin about how we know we are going to Heaven. Well, we get into Heaven by being saved. Well, how do we know we are saved? We know by being filled with the Holy Spirit, because God isn't going to put His Spirit in someone who isn't willing. So then how do we know we have been filled with the Holy Spirit? Is it because we fell on the ground one time and speak in tongues? No. Can you be filled with the Holy Spirit and not speak in tongues? Absolutely. So then how do you know? The fruit of the Spirit! That's when I first became interested again in the fruit of the Spirit. I thought nothing more of it after that, until now that is. But really, the fruit of the Spirit. Its time to get back to the basics. No one cares about the proper apologetic approach for each cultural group. I may know the definition to words such as Soteriological and Pneumatology, but who cares! It doesn't matter! Not many people even really care about what the text said in its original Hebrew or Greek. Maybe a few dedicated Christians, but definitely not any non-believers. But you know what people do care about, both Christians and non-Christians alike? The fruit of the Spirit! Who doesn't care about Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control? No one, because everyone cares about that stuff! Its time to get back to the basics. The naked fruit. What can you do in life if you are not producing sweet fruit for your precious Lord Jesus? Not much. Are you even Christian if you are not producing any type of fruit? Hmm. That's a question to ponder. Anyways, I am going to dedicate this season to digging deeper into the fruit of the Spirit.I'm going to unpeel it! Not just skim over Galatians chapter 5, but to really examine it and determine what really matters and how it can change my life. It is the Word of God after all, I do expect it to change my life. I don't know what its going to look like after I'm done studying it. I don't know what I'm going to look like after I'm done. But I hope I produce more fruit. I'm really excited to see what I learn about peace. To rest in God. To rest in God at all times, even during times of labor. To rest in God even (gasp) at work! Wow, there's a thought! Lord, help me to rest in You! To trust in You more! To be content at work knowing that You are at work in my life all the time. In those kids' lives! Help them to see You in me. Help my co-workers see this peace I find in You and to yearn for it too. Help me to be a witness to them! Lord, show me what you want me to learn as I begin to study the fruit of the Spirit. Help me grow into the person you want me to be! Lord I love You and I want my life to produce fruit that glorifies You! Shape me, Lord! Lets get back to the basics. The fruit of the Spirit!