The Fruitful Life

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(Galatians 5:22-24)

The fruitful life is the only life to live. When you repented of sin and placed personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the third part of the Trinity took up permanent residence in your life (Eph. 1:13). So, the Holy Spirit is a gift from God to you. The Holy Spirit is living in you. You have a divine guest living within you whether you realize He is there or not. So, there is a vast difference between a person who has the HS and the person who does not? At least there should be!

A few years ago Julie and I bought an older house and it was not very attractive. It was pale green, covered on the inside with nicotine, and the bathroom countertops were black. So we painted and cleaned and replaced all we could afford to update. The house, physically speaking, was much the same. But once we moved in we saw it from a different point of view. Becoming a Christian is very similar. Even though our earthly house remains pretty much the same, a new tenant moves in, the Holy Spirit, and we begin to see life from a different point of view!

So, as you begin a new week, ponder these questions:

·Do you desire the fruitful life? (v. 16) Remember that “walk” is a present tense verb denoting a continuous, regular, habitual way of life). What we have here is not an option. We have a command: walk by the Spirit. Let His power guide you and go where he leads. Don't ever cut yourself off from the Holy Spirit.

·Have you denounced sin in your life? (v.17-21) Let me remind you of what the martyred Nazi war prisoner said: "When Christ calls a man, He bids him, 'Come and die'. To follow Christ no matter what the cost, that is the way of the cross."

·Have you died to your own ambitions? (v. 24) Have you willingly nailed your sinful nature to the cross? If not, why not lay aside your corruptible flesh and declare total allegiance to the fruitful life today?

Derek