Fruit
It is easy to get caught up in the idea that we glorify God by being closer than anyone else has ever been, and it's really easy to feel that way because when we experience God in new ways, it feels like it's ours and only ours and it's so fully validating and filling that we think "This is the object of the Christian walk, to be deeper and deeper with God, and the sign of deeper and deeper is these spiritual encounters."
um. no. all of that feels good, and is great in moderation, but if we think feeling tingly or having visions or dreams from God, or even hearing God's voice, is the goal, then we have not read our Bible well enough.
John 15:8 says "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." That feels pretty clear to me.
Just a few verses ealier, in the whole "He is Divine, we are de branches." (haha, just a little plant humor for ya) section, he is so clear that when we grow, He rewards that with pruning for more growth, not with swirling spiritual encounters.
Don't get me wrong, I love those. I love them so much, but they should in no way be my focus, because then that turns into a self-validating system where we are more focused on the fact that our walk with God makes us feel spiritual and holy.
The fruit of the Spirit, the natural result of walking in obedience with the Holy Spirit, are all tangible actions or clear heart attitudes towards others. Even the most ethereal and "woo-woo" part of Christianity, the Holy Spirit, is firmly grounded in clear, measurable fruit in our day to day lives. If that doesn't communicate God's heart, I don't know what does.
God did not make this hard to understand, He did not make it a guessing game that looks different for each person. If someone is spending hours on their face worshiping and praying to be closer, and then spends the rest of their time belittling and resenting their husband or children, then their requests are going to be fruitless because God is giving us the opportunity to grow, to have our hearts more closely align with His every time a conflict arises, every time we harbor bitterness or hurt. THAT is when our relationship with God is revealed.
For being the God that made nebulas and bioluminescent plankton and human souls, He sure is practical and straightforward. He made Himself known through everything Jesus did. Jesus did not demonstrate wild spirituality, He demonstrated obedience and kindness and truth and tough love and constant grace. That is what we are called to.
um. no. all of that feels good, and is great in moderation, but if we think feeling tingly or having visions or dreams from God, or even hearing God's voice, is the goal, then we have not read our Bible well enough.
John 15:8 says "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." That feels pretty clear to me.
Just a few verses ealier, in the whole "He is Divine, we are de branches." (haha, just a little plant humor for ya) section, he is so clear that when we grow, He rewards that with pruning for more growth, not with swirling spiritual encounters.
Don't get me wrong, I love those. I love them so much, but they should in no way be my focus, because then that turns into a self-validating system where we are more focused on the fact that our walk with God makes us feel spiritual and holy.
The fruit of the Spirit, the natural result of walking in obedience with the Holy Spirit, are all tangible actions or clear heart attitudes towards others. Even the most ethereal and "woo-woo" part of Christianity, the Holy Spirit, is firmly grounded in clear, measurable fruit in our day to day lives. If that doesn't communicate God's heart, I don't know what does.
God did not make this hard to understand, He did not make it a guessing game that looks different for each person. If someone is spending hours on their face worshiping and praying to be closer, and then spends the rest of their time belittling and resenting their husband or children, then their requests are going to be fruitless because God is giving us the opportunity to grow, to have our hearts more closely align with His every time a conflict arises, every time we harbor bitterness or hurt. THAT is when our relationship with God is revealed.
For being the God that made nebulas and bioluminescent plankton and human souls, He sure is practical and straightforward. He made Himself known through everything Jesus did. Jesus did not demonstrate wild spirituality, He demonstrated obedience and kindness and truth and tough love and constant grace. That is what we are called to.
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