Dave’s Monday Blast – July 29, 2024
Our God created us to bear fruit. He refers to this fruit as The Fruit of the Spirit. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul records for us in Galatians 5:22 what we would look like if we allowed this fruit to ripen in our lives (we would look like Christ). INTENTIONAL men of God know that we are unable to bear this kind of fruit unless we allow the Spirit of God to control us (Ephesians 5:18); then we can exhibit His character in great measure.
We are told in Romans 8:29 that when we allow the Spirit to do His work of transformation in us, we will manifest the fruit of the Spirit. It is important to note that the first fruit that ripens, and makes all the other fruit sweet and savory, is love. We can love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
I have spent a bit of time over the last week or so watching Congressional hearings with the head of the Secret Service. Typical stuff, i.e. direct questions, no answers. It makes for good theater, but few Americans are amused. At the heart of humankind is a desire to know the truth; none of us enjoy being lied to. I took no particular pleasure in her resignation but hope that in the days that follow we will discover the truth. At this juncture, the agencies involved are either incompetent or complicit in the tragic events of that day.
In Titus 3:2 we read that we are not to “…speak evil of anyone…”, but in these days of societal breakdown, as we see our Judeo Christian Worldview being dismantled it is becoming increasingly difficult for me to follow the admonition of Scripture found in Jude. I appreciate the wisdom of Pastor Jim Denison of the Denison Forum as he referenced the 1 John 4:19 passage in a recent post: “This is the only way we can obey Jesus’ mandate to ‘love your enemies’ (Matthew 5:44). It is the only power by which we can ‘love one another…just as I have loved you’ (John 13:34). It is the only means by which we can ‘let all that you do be done in love’ (1 Corinthians 16:14).”
Denison continues: “When we love as we are loved, we will not slander or demean those with whom we disagree, on social media or in any other way (cf. James 4:11). We will intercede for our leaders, especially when we disagree with them (1 Timothy 2:1 – 2). We will obey God’s command to ‘speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2).”
Take a few moments to prayerfully meditate upon the following Scriptures believing that the Spirit of God will use the Word of God to make us more like the Son of God. (2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 4:15; Galatians 5:13).
