Knowing Us By Our Fruit

As we approach this weekend, let's look at some important characteristics that should be active in the lives of all Christians.  Spend some time thinking about each of these, and how they can be detected in your life.  Sadly, many who cling to the beliefs of Christianity rarely demonstrate any evidence that they really belong to the Lord.   So let's start by saying, a Christian is one who is a follower of Jesus Christ, and then we will have a starting point to look at the characteristics.

1.  A Christian manifests the qualities of being Christ-like.

2.  A Christian is one whose life follows the teachings of Jesus.

3.  A Christian is one, who through his actions, demonstrates the difference Jesus makes in life.

4.  A Christian is one who loves all others.

 

Look at this verse from Matthew 7, the words of Jesus,  "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

 

Then this verse from Galatians 5, Paul writes,  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

 

Jesus says we are recognized by the fruit we produce, and Paul says the fruit of the Spirit demonstrates the life that crucified, or, put to death, the things of the flesh.  Here is where you and I need to spend some time taking an inward glance, especially to see if we as Christians are producing the fruits of the Spirit. 

During this weekend, take a moment with pen and paper, and write each characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, and how you can be identified with Jesus, as we grow toward being more Christ-like.

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

God bless your study, and your prayerful consideration of being more like Jesus.

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