daily IMPACT by selahV today

A Bit of FRUIT Introspection

I love fruit. Almost any kind of fruit. My absolute favorite is fresh pineapple.  If I were stranded on an island, I believe I could eat pineapple for years and never tire of it.

I suppose we all prefer some fruit over others.  With canned fruit, I buy pineapple chunks and sliced peaches. Hubby likes fruit cocktail. I pick out the cherries. There isn't a canned fruit cocktail that compares to a fresh fruit salad (for my recipe). 

We can pick and choose our favorite fruit. Pineapples are best if they are a bit yellow but not browned. If hard and green, they aren't as juicy and sweet.  I'm careful not to buy much fruit when it's not in season.  With Christians, God is manifested through us by the attributes His Spirit gives us.  Paul tells us the fruit that is evident in the Spirit-filled Christian:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."(Galatians 5:22,23)

It takes all the "fruit" to be Spirit-filled.  As we yield our lives to God, we exhibit the Spirit's fruit.  When we do not manifest the fruit, it's likely because we are seeking our own way, resisting--rather than relinquishing our will to the Spirit.  When people come near us, we're a lot like the outside of that pineapple, it's leaves all prickly and irritable.

We can say we love someone, but love is not stagnant.  Love moves.  Love acts upon the heartfelt feelings and will and lets go of itself for the benefit of others.  It purposes to exhibit the heart of God that is implanted in us upon our trusting in Him and relying on Him to sustain us and provide all we need to walk in His will.   

Paul referred to the various attributes of the Holy Spirit as being fruit--not fruits. Yet, I've come to realize that each attribute is connected to the other-- kinda like the fruit-salad I make for special potluck dinners. Each fruit has its own characteristics with distinct flavors and becomes one salad.  When we look at the various attributes of the Spirit's fruit, we can see how one without the other is not complete.  Can you imagine love that is impatient, stingy, or hateful?

In the next few devotionals I want to explore the individual "fruit" attributes we are given.  I find it amazing that the Spirit combines all these things so we are more fully completed in image of God.  I hope you will, too.   

[If you have any insights, please feel free to share them.  If you like the series, please share it with others in your social network.]

Photo provided by Maui Pineapple Farm   

Where Is Your Confidence?

There have been times in my life when I lacked confidence.  When I gave my first speech in 4-H competition at age thirteen.  When I applied for jobs.  When I became a mother.  In fact, there are still times I feel inadequate.  I question my abilities. I believe the voice that tells me I am incompetent, that I do not know what I am talking about.  I think about what I am doing today and stand amazed that I am able to do it.  Who am I that I should--well, whatever--do anything at all?  Who am I that anyone should listen to me?  To read my words, to trust them?

I sit here writing this and realize everything I say is just words without Christ.  I think about my life and what I have accomplished.  I find myself wondering about past ministries and people I counseled.  And I am reminded by Paul's words to the Corinthians that I have no claim at all to competence--none whatsoever. 

"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

 Indeed, my friends, the only confidence we have is in Christ Jesus.  We have nothing to measure another man's soul, nothing to determine another man's heart-felt motives.  Only Christ knows the good we are doing in His name.  Even the evil we see shown by others--the arrogance, the pride-filled rhetoric, the condemning statements--those are not ours to claim some superior knowledge of.  All that we do--words or deeds--rest entirely in the merciful, tolerant, forgiving nail-scarred hands of Christ.  The final judge.  Any competence we show the world with the little light we shed comes from God.  Who are we to boast of any greater knowledge of Him?  Who are we to mock another as having less knowledge than we?  Who are we that God is mindful of us at all?  selahV

CAN YOU ANSWER YES OR NO?

I think that most "tales" (rumors, gossip) are suspect by the very nature of their birth and rapid repetition.

I met someone the other day and found myself quite impressed with him.  He was much like I'd imagined him to be.  I'd heard a tale that had circulated for several years about him till the tale became extremely public.  I asked him about the tale.  He leaned forward across the dinner table and looked me square in the eye.  He wanted my total attention.  He then refuted the information.  The tale had been a lie.  Although the truth of the matter had been distorted beyond recognition, he seemed to bear no anger nor did he embellish his simple words of "I did not do that" with further explanation.  There is action he could take to vindicate himself and it could be made public to produce a kind of retraction of sorts.  But in reality, that isn't necessary with truth--at least to me.  I saw and heard all I needed to hear.  And I believe him. 

"Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more comes from the evil one." Matthew 5:37

I truly believe the indwelling Spirit of God reveals to us the spirit of love, of truth, of integrity in another.  I believe He also reveals the deceit.  Sometimes we do not want to accept the possibility that someone whom we think is upright could be less than we assume.  And because we place people on pedestals, we can miss the inner voice of the Holy Spirit warning us to take heed. 

For my satisfaction and peace of mind, I pray my heart is made pure by the cleansing examination of the Lord.  I pray my Yes is simply Yes and my No is simply No and will stand the test of fire.  I pray my character and life is so unwavering in faithfulness to God that all will trust my Yes and No.  Oh, Lord, encamp Your angels around my mind.  Don't let me go astray.  Keep my feet from slipping.  Uphold me in Your right hand.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2008]