How are you recognized?

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
(Matthew 7:20 (NIV))

Do you get apples from a pear tree? Do you get pecans from a peach tree? Do you . . .

I realize that these sound like very silly questions for anyone older than three or four years old, but it is the same concept when we look at the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV))

Do you see love in a hateful person? Do you see kindness in a selfish person? Do you see joy in an angry person? I realize that it is possible for a hateful person to show a small amount of love, but not enough to overshadow the hate that fills them. It is possible for a selfish person to show an occasional kindness, but it is not an ever present characteristic in their lives. And just as you don’t see anything that resembles true joy in an angry person, you don’t see true anger in a joyful person. All of these are contradictions to each other. It is possible to even say that these sample pairings are the extremes of the same characteristics. At one end you have love and the other end you have hate.

As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to bear good fruit. Do you?

How do you see yourself? How do you think others see you? How does the Lord see you? Do you show love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Do your actions reflect the light of Jesus or do they embrace the sins of this world?

If you were to be judged by your fruit, which end of the extremes would you be on? Would you be found to bear good fruit? Would you be neither good nor bad, hot nor cold? We know what Jesus thinks of those who are neither hot nor cold.

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
(Revelation 3:16 (NIV))

How are you recognized?

Copyright 1998 – 2019 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Subscribe to daily email delivery
Visit us on facebook

There truly is a reward for those who live for God

Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living ^©

“Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.” ”
(Psalms 58:11 (NLT))

Do you live for the day that you can say this because it has come to pass?

Too many people don’t even believe in God and they live their lives just as they believe. They do not see the consequences of any of their actions. Perhaps, they even flaunt their actions because they don’t believe. Whatever the reason, too many people live as if nothing matters except them. Many of these people even go out of their way to make sure that the body of believers receives ridicule because of their actions.

It is good to know that the words recorded in Psalms 58:11 will come to pass. However, we must not gloat over this fact when we are confronted with people who do not believe. It is our task as the Body of Jesus to pray for God’s Will to be done in their lives.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9 (NIV))

We must remember the people that God is giving a chance to come to salvation before the events of Psalms 58:11 come to pass. We must not rush God and His timeframe. We must pray for those who still need to come to a saving grace through the blood of Jesus.

But, it is wonderful to know that “there is a God who judges justly here on earth,” even if it is not done according to our desired timeline.

Copyright 1998 – 2013 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
Subscribe to daily email delivery