We spend a lot of time testing each other. Most times we do it as a form of self protection, a defense mechanism. Have you ever waited for someone else to "prove" themselves to you before you would behave in some way or another toward them? I have. What a drain of time and energy. Mostly a waste of time. I understand that no one wants to be hurt especially hurt in love. But I can count the number of times on one hand when after "holding out/holding back" I came out better on the other side in a relationship. Mostly, what happens is a sort of gamesmanship which slides gently into a season of disillusion and tactical posturing on both sides. It has never created greater love or compassion...not ever. It build resentment, pain, and anger.
The older I get and the more I see younger people engaged in forms of relationship manipulation and I don't just mean boy/girl kind, it heavies my heart. I know better now that the yield from these type of behaviors leaves you in the emotional red not in the emotional black. And the more these type of behaviors are exercised they become part of your ongoing character. What a horrible trait to build into your spirit. Holding back until you feel someone you really care about has done more for you than you have done for them. Making moves yet keeping the scale ever tipped in your favor.
I wonder what if Jesus treated us like that? How different our lives might be. But in what ways? With the help of God's Spirit, however, we produce something far different: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [or patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (verses 22-23). That is truly good fruit! God wants us to bear much of this fruit!
Spirit-led people have these wonderful virtues of godly character as the result of God's Spirit acting from within. The credit for this fruit belongs to God and Jesus Christ who supply that Spirit.
And God will let us bear this fruit only when we are trying to give of ourselves to others. This fruit is manifested in relationships. God's Spirit is like a river (John 7:38). It will flow into us only when it is also flowing out to others.
Matthew 7:12 ESV
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The older I get and the more I see younger people engaged in forms of relationship manipulation and I don't just mean boy/girl kind, it heavies my heart. I know better now that the yield from these type of behaviors leaves you in the emotional red not in the emotional black. And the more these type of behaviors are exercised they become part of your ongoing character. What a horrible trait to build into your spirit. Holding back until you feel someone you really care about has done more for you than you have done for them. Making moves yet keeping the scale ever tipped in your favor.
I wonder what if Jesus treated us like that? How different our lives might be. But in what ways? With the help of God's Spirit, however, we produce something far different: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [or patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (verses 22-23). That is truly good fruit! God wants us to bear much of this fruit!
Spirit-led people have these wonderful virtues of godly character as the result of God's Spirit acting from within. The credit for this fruit belongs to God and Jesus Christ who supply that Spirit.
And God will let us bear this fruit only when we are trying to give of ourselves to others. This fruit is manifested in relationships. God's Spirit is like a river (John 7:38). It will flow into us only when it is also flowing out to others.
Matthew 7:12 ESV
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
RSS Feed