I caught it after this morning's devotions with the girls; the idea for which was found at Erna's place. It was delightful to let the girls make their own scripture memory cards and include stickers and drawings that give clues to the meaning and application of the Word.
Today we studied the fruit of the Spirit. I remember the first time I ever saw these verses on some new-Christian literature that was handed out at an evangelical meeting. I was so young in Christ that I didn't know how to pronounce Ninevah! (But that's another story for another day.) The words struck me as like nothing I'd read before, and I was entranced by the beauty of their Truth.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy,
peace, patience,
kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23
"How do we know what kind of tree is before us?" I asked Dumpling.
"By its branches?" she answers, unsure.
"No, actually. By what blooms from the branches -- the fruit. If you see apples, then it's an..."
"Apple tree!"
"And if you see pears?"
"A pear tree!"
"And if..."
"Avocados?"
"Yes, Dumpling. If you see avocados, then it must be an avocado tree."
And then I had the pleasure of teaching my girls something very important. It makes the difference for me between confidence and confusion, victory and frustration, triumph-in-Christ and guilt.
We looked again at the verse and noticed that the fruit of which we were reading is not of our own effort -- it is of the Spirit. I was speaking words of hope to them when I said that they needn't worry about practicing these behaviors.
Yes! That's what I said! They needn't worry about practicing these behaviors.
They need only yield themselves to Christ in them and the Spirit will practice the behaviors; His fruit will bloom if He's in there.
It is an evidence, and it is all too clear.
The circumstance is secondary. However unjust or painful the hurt, no matter how right or impassioned our opinion -- if we respond with the evidences of flesh, we are not walking in the Spirit. And if we're not walking in the Spirit, how can we possibly be sure that we're walking in the Truth?
Not our truth, mind you -- not the democratically-arrived-upon truth, not the politically-correct nor any other kind of prideful-man truth -- but Truth with a capital "T."
When trouble bumps the cup that is life, what is pouring forth?
love, joy,
peace, patience,
kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23
"How do we know what kind of tree is before us?" I asked Dumpling.
"By its branches?" she answers, unsure.
"No, actually. By what blooms from the branches -- the fruit. If you see apples, then it's an..."
"Apple tree!"
"And if you see pears?"
"A pear tree!"
"And if..."
"Avocados?"
"Yes, Dumpling. If you see avocados, then it must be an avocado tree."
And then I had the pleasure of teaching my girls something very important. It makes the difference for me between confidence and confusion, victory and frustration, triumph-in-Christ and guilt.
We looked again at the verse and noticed that the fruit of which we were reading is not of our own effort -- it is of the Spirit. I was speaking words of hope to them when I said that they needn't worry about practicing these behaviors.
Yes! That's what I said! They needn't worry about practicing these behaviors.
They need only yield themselves to Christ in them and the Spirit will practice the behaviors; His fruit will bloom if He's in there.
It is an evidence, and it is all too clear.
The circumstance is secondary. However unjust or painful the hurt, no matter how right or impassioned our opinion -- if we respond with the evidences of flesh, we are not walking in the Spirit. And if we're not walking in the Spirit, how can we possibly be sure that we're walking in the Truth?
Not our truth, mind you -- not the democratically-arrived-upon truth, not the politically-correct nor any other kind of prideful-man truth -- but Truth with a capital "T."
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery,
hatred, contentions,
jealousies,
outbursts of wrath,
shelfish ambitions,
dissensions,
heresies,
envy,
murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like...
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery,
hatred, contentions,
jealousies,
outbursts of wrath,
shelfish ambitions,
dissensions,
heresies,
envy,
murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like...
those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
When trouble bumps the cup that is life, what is pouring forth?
4 comments:
This is a beautiful lesson and one I'm sure will stick with them for a lifetime!
Bravo! "It is no longer I who live...." (Gal. 2:20)
So true! :)
Great lesson to learn so early in life.
I'm so delighted you enjoyed making the memory verses together. I planned to visit for a little while to read your post about it but got delayed. I loved reading about the time you shared with the girls and the things you taught them. It is so true that we don't have to practice the passage but the fruits will grow naturally as we yield to the Spirit. I've enjoyed the calorie post too! Neat idea!
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