Often we discuss the fruit of the Spirit and that can be a subject that causes controversy among many. However there is one fruit of the Spirit that cannot and should not cause controversy or division. This gift is the gift of LOVE!
The apostle Paul wrote:
Sometimes we can become too comfortable in our walks with God, or we become to relaxed in our relationship with Christ, or even become puffed up. By allowing this in our lives we begin to allow "vines" to grow wildly. These "vines" without proper pruning can begin to smother and eventually choke off the fruit of love in which we are called to bare.
While working on this devotion I became interested in seeing what happens when fruit and flower bearing vines become neglected. While looking at various books and web-sites that showed what fruit or flower bearing vines that have been neglected look like after becoming disease infected, insect ridden and thick trunked. I was somewhat surprised. On the outside some looked very healthy, however when the inside was shown it was distressing, most having a black ooz from disease or even hallow from insect infestation. The trunk can become to thick thus limiting the amount of fruit.
Just as the gardeners and horticulturists must use every caution that their vines do not become diseased, thick trunked and insect infested we too must make sure that the vines of our hearts are pruned and taken care of regularly.
Some of the "insects" or "diseases" that can choke out the fruit we bare are Bitterness, self-centeredness, pride, envy and hatred. Let us take a look at what the master gardener tells us about these disease and insects.
BITTERNESS
Heb. 12:14-15,Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Eph. 4:30-32,And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Acts 8:22-23Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven Thee. 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
HATE
I John 2:8-11Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
I John 4:20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
I Cor. 13:5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
James 3:14-16But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Matt. 16:24:26Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Proverbs 14:30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
1 Timothy 6:4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
PRIDE
Lev. 26:19And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
Psalm 10:4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Proverbs 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate
Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
In each of these diseased area's mentioned above there is a warning call, a call to destruction or shows us the end results of these "diseases" that may be in our hearts. However going back to the scripture we began with notice the last sentence:Galations 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
We as believers in the one true God must take all precautions to protect and maintain the seeds that were given us to begin the growth of the vines of our hearts. When we keep the garden of our heart's pruned, fed and watered we will accomplish what He has called us to. The scripture below give us a wonderful, loving portrait of what the vines of our hearts will produce when we indeed keep the commandments of the master gardener. Often we can become too comfortable and without realizing it we have allowed the "sour fruit" that comes from bad vines to enter in. We become ugly in our speech toward others, We loose compassion thus creating an ugliness that has often went unchecked until we realize another has been hurt by our actions. So let us look to the scriptures that give us instruction, direction and definition of what the fruit of the Spirit of Love is:
Joy:
Psalm 32:11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Meek:
Psalm 22:26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. Psalm 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Mercy:
I Peter 1:3,Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Titus 3:5, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin
I John 1:6-9If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ps. 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Isaiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Col. 3:12-15Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Ephesians 3:16 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Mark 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Col. 3:12, Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 2 Pet. 1:7, And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Gal. 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
When following thru with His commandments, to love, show mercy, forgiveness, grace and loving kindness we will have conduct becoming of Him. So bring out the insect killer called the living water, the shears of pruning called the Word of God. And allow the master gardener to prune back what is dead, diseased and oozing black from bitterness, hatred and envy. After all we must have conduct worthy of Him.
I Pet. 1:13-17, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Eph. 5:8-11, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Titus 2:11-13, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
NLŠ2001
