Fruit of the Spirit: Forgiveness

/ ourchristianlifeblog / Leave a comment

Peter, also called Cephas, came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?”

To which Jesus replied, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Expanding upon His answer Jesus told Peter a parable, “The kingdom of God is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Not being able to repay his debt, the master ordered that he, his wife, his children, and all that he owned be sold to repay the debt.

On hearing the harsh ruling, the servant fell on his knees before his master, ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ Showing the servant mercy, the master cancelled the debt and let him go.

Debt free, the servant exited, only to find a fellow servant who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him, while demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ As a result, his fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ Yet, he refused, and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. Outraged by what they witnessed, the other servants rushed and told their master everything that had happened.

Calling the servant, the master said, ‘You wicked servant. I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.”Like that servant, God has forgiven us of a great debt. All have fallen short of the glory of God; instead of reaping the fruit of our sins, which is death, God sent Jesus as an atonement. Therefore, if God can forgive our significant debt, then we can forgive others when they sin against us. The two debts aren’t even comparable, for our debt to God triumphs any wrongs a brother or sister can do to us. Thus, if God can forgive us, then we ought to forgive others; a servant is not greater than his master, and a student his teacher. 

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness and Forbearance

/ ourchristianlifeblog / Leave a comment

As Jesus was teaching His disciples, a teacher in the law asked Him, “Teacher who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with a parable, “A man was going down the road leading from Jerusalem to Jericho, when some robbers attacked Him. After tearing off his clothes and beating him, they left him lying there, almost dead.

On that same road a Jewish priest was traveling, seeing the man, he walked by on the other side.

Next a Levite came there. He went over to look at the man, then walked by on the other side of the road.

Then a Samaritan traveling on that same road came to where the man was lying. Seeing the man, he felt sorry for him. As a result, he poured olive oil and wine on his wounds. Then placed the man on his donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of the man.

The next day, the Samaritan withdrew two silver coins from his pocket and gave them to the gatekeeper saying, “Take care of this man. If you spend more money on him, I will repay it when I return.

After telling the parable, Jesus asked, “Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?”

The teacher of the law answered, “The one who helped him.”

Jesus said to him, “Then go and do the same thing he did!”

Scripture declares, “Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.” Thus, when we feed the hungry, we feed Jesus; when we give a drink to the thirsty, we quench the thirst of Jesus; when we show hospitality to those who are alone and away from home, we invite Jesus into our home; when we clothe others, we clothe Jesus; and when we care for those who are sick, we’re showing care for Jesus.

Allow your fulgent deeds to shine before others, in doing so, we bring glory to our Father in heaven.

Fruit of the Spirit

/ ourchristianlifeblog / Leave a comment

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way back into the city, Jesus grew hungry. Noticing a fig tree by the road, He approached looking for fruit. Finding nothing but leaves, Jesus cursed the tree saying, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately causing the tree to wither. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.

The withering of the tree was a showcase of Jesus’ power and faith, yet, it was much more than that, it was a byword for us today. The tree symbolizes a person, while its fruit, their actions. Which the tree lacked; fruit in keeping with the Spirit.

For the fruit of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, forbearance, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control; all which are contrary to those of the flesh.

As a result, the flesh and the Spirit are at constant war with each other. What the flesh desires, the spirit opposes, and vice versa.

Thus, we need to make every effort to walk by the Spirit. Taking one step at a time, never getting ahead of God, but walking at His set pace.