![]() ![]() And while it can be beneficial and kind, it isn’t evidence of the life of the Spirit or its fruit, because its ultimate goal is glorifying self and not God. So, even those who seem so selfless and good can be, at the root of it all, just serving themselves. ![]() In other words, when the flesh is our source of fruit, the motivation isn’t God’s glory but our own. People do things for lots of reasons, but whatever does not come from the Spirit, but from the flesh, is done out of pleasure seeking. Whatever does not come from the Spirit is done out of pleasure seeking. People might give because of how important it makes them feel or how much it relieves their guilt. A woman might love a man because of how he makes her feel, how he looks, or how much money he makes. Their fruit grows because of the pay-off they receive. They love their families, they help their friends, and they serve the world, sometimes better than believers, but only because it feels good. The big question, then, is can you truly bear fruit if you aren’t abiding? I know many nonbelievers who love, who are kind, gentle, patient, and joyful. “The mind, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, perceives and understands the truth the conscience, quickened by the Holy Spirit, feels and acknowledges it the heart, converted by the Holy Spirit, loves and obeys it.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |