by Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Just how do we do this? How do we actually show “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” towards others? How do we walk and show the “fruit of the Spirit?”
All too often, people are quick to judge, quick to gossip, quick to say hurtful things, quick to respond and not think, quick to give up on a friendship, quick to just ignore someone, quick to go their own way, quick to speak and slow to listen, quick to respond and not think at all. Too many issues arise in our daily lives as a result of people (Christians) not really demonstrating the “fruit of the Spirit” in their lives.
Yes, we all mess up sometimes, but this is a time to examine our every-day daily lives. Are we truly demonstrating the “fruit of the Spirit” in our lives towards others on a regular basis day in and day out? Are we loving, joyful, and peaceful towards others? How about longsuffering (patient) with others? Are we gentle and kind? How about showing goodness? The world shows their “good works” but what about Christians?
Faith is certainly an area we all struggle with until it is something we 100% cannot do and then some people like to say, “I’m having faith in the Lord.” But they are only saying this because something has come along that they have no control over. But what about faith in everyday things? Where is our faith? Where is our faith in our relationships with others? Faith to stick it out in a friendship, a marriage, a church, a job, other other areas of our lives no matter what. Where is Faith?
Luke 8:25 “And he said unto them, Where is your faith?”
What about meekness? I use to think it meant to be a quiet spoken person, but that is not what it means. Webster’s 1828 defines meekness as “Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.”
How about temperance? Webster’s 1828 defines temperance as “Patience; calmness; sedateness; moderation of passion.”
Now that we have had a good review of the “fruit of the Spirit.” Now, how do we really demonstrate that fruit in our daily lives? How do we walk and show the fruit of the Spirit?
Let us use Christ as our example. How did he demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit” in his life? He was God, come to earth in the flesh, to live as we live; and to give us many examples of how to behave in our Christian walk. We will use his earthly life as our example so we can be “Christ-like” and live and demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit” in our life.
There are few thoughts about Christ’s life that came to my mind on this topic.
LOOK
Christ LOOKED at people and with just his looking, he had compassion. No one had to say anything. He looked and had compassion. Because he was God, he knew everything about everyone without them coming to him. He knew a full account of each of their lives. He knew who was sick, who had a sick family member, who had lost their job, who had lost a loved-one, who was stressed, who was depressed, who was struggling financially, etc. He knew it all about everyone he looked upon, so he looked on them with compassion.
Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them…”
Matthew 14:14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them”
Because he LOOKED on the multitudes with compassion, he exhibited the fruit of the Spirit towards others. He showed “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” towards all people.
When is the last time you just LOOKED at someone, in church, at work, at school, while shopping, in the neighborhood, or some other place? You looked at a person and you earnestly thought about them and what they may be going through in life?
Christ – because he is God – knew everything about everyone’s life, but we have to work at it. We have to LOOK at people and get to know them. Most people will never divulge every detail about their lives; but if one looks at someone and knows just a few things about that person, one can look on a person with compassion like Christ. It is a lot easier to have compassion on someone if we truly care to know about that person. Then we can demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit” towards that person. We can show “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” towards all people.
Since we are not God and we do not know it all, how should we LOOK at others? Here are some things to consider when looking at others:
- Do they have a job or are unemployed?
- Do they work night shift, rotating shifts?
- Are they working 2 jobs to make ends meet?
- Are they a single parent?
- Are they a widow or widower?
- Have they gone through the death of a loved one?
- Do they have chronic health issues?
- Are they caring for a family member with chronic health issues?
- Are they struggling financially?
- Could they be lonely?
- Do they have young children? Teens?
- Have their children moved out?
- Do they see their adult children?
- Has their car broke down or something else broke down recently causing a burden?
- Or, do they have many of the things listed above going on in their lives?
- Etc. Etc.
I believe most Christians really want to care about others, but do they really take the time to care? Do they care like Christ cared? Do they LOOK on others with the compassion of Christ? We rush through brief conversations with each other and go on about our day, but we do not stop to think, “Just what is that person going through in their life?”
We get so easily offended. I believe this could be prevented if we took the time to LOOK at people. If someone talks rude to us, ignores us, or is just plain mean, we quickly get upset; but what if that person has major stresses in their life? Look and examine their life and you might find a reason why that person could have been a bit sharp. Chances are, they did not mean to be sharp; but the pressures of life were just getting them down.
So, LOOK at people’s lives (think about our list above) and have compassion on them – regardless of how they are towards you – and demonstrate the “fruit of the Spirit” towards them. It just may be the thing they need to encourage them and lift them up for the day. Even if they have been sharp with you – by LOOKING – you can demonstrate compassion and the “fruit of the Spirit” back to them.
I encourage you now to read this verse and put your name in place of the “he.”
Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them…”
Let us LOOK at others, have compassion on them, and demonstrate “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” towards all people.
To be continued in Look, Listen, Learn – Part II
