I read a verse today that could cause fear to rise. I remember when the weight of it fell on me years ago. We were reading through a book together as a small group & it sparked a debate.
It’s spoken by John the Baptist to people who wanted to be baptized to SHOW that they have a repentant heart, but he calls them a brood of vipers because they wouldn’t change the way they lived.
He warns them, “Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe for we are descendants of Abraham.’…The ax of God’s judgement is poised …every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down & thrown into the fire.”
Many questions bubbled in our group that centered on salvation, but the one that caught my eye was this: What does he mean by fruit? The root definition of fruit means everything done in true partnership with Christ.
If I accept Jesus as Savior & allow Him to be Lord, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit will become evident in my life. It has nothing to do with striving & everything to do with dying (to self).
Last night on the way back to our hotel, I felt tempted to anger, but refused to come into agreement with it. I told Markel & we prayed, cancelling the stupid assignment of the enemy to steal my joy & immediately the darkness lifted. You see, the fruit of the enemy always displaces fruit of the Spirit & vice versa! I cannot be angry AND slow to anger at the same time!
John baptized with water, but the Holy Spirit baptizes with fire. Fire transforms everything it touches into light. When we allow the Holy Spirit to have His way, our lives are consumed in Christ, the life-giving light of His presence overwhelms ours & the fruit of His Spirit becomes evident!
Father, we don’t want to be like a “brood of vipers” who SAY we are Christians, but not change the way we live. There is much we are facing that causes fear & tempts us to divisive arguments. Holy Spirit, may YOUR fruit be evident in our lives. When darkness dawns our door, help us to kick him to the curb by letting your truth trump temptation. Melt our flesh down, just like metal, that it may be cast into a new mould! Shape us into Your image so we may partner with You & bear Your fruit!
NUMBERS 26:52-28:15
LUKE 3:1-22
PSALM 61:1-8
PROVERBS 11:16-17
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