Fruit of the Spirit Series: Kindness- Part 5 of 9

          For this topic, lets take a look at Colossians 3:12-14:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

           I think this verse does a great job in dealing with Kindness as a virtue. It recognizes that everyone we will ever come into contact with will probably disappoint us in one way or another and that we will do the same for others. Instead of dealing with this by trying to push ourselves and others toward perfection, this verse promotes kindness and forgiveness as a better response. We should "clothe" ourselves in kindness. What this means is that we need to have that mindset in place from the moment we wake up (maybe this is why it is called a 'mind-set'). It is all a part of grace. We are all equal in God's sight and nothing today will increase or decrease that value. In fact, you may have noticed that the passage I quoted starts with 'therefore', indicating that this verse is a result of what was just said. Here is the previous verse (v.11):

11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

          We are all equally loved in God's sight and we should, therefore, seek to represent that equality by being kind and forgiving to each other. Verse 13 tells us to 'bear' with each other's shortcomings. The word 'bear' seems to indicate that this will be a long process, perhaps even life long. Of course, if there is unrepentant sin in someone's life, we are called to address and confront that sin head-on; also, we want to help our brothers and sisters grow over time. However, this does not mean that we are supposed to point out each and every imperfection. Verse 14 tells us that love is a key virtue for keeping compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience all tied together. This is because all these virtues keep love as a common goal. In the case of kindness, we are seeking to create a safe place for those around us to be themselves. This world is full of enough places of judgement and criticism without the church adding an extra burden. We pursue our goals of maturation in a fail-free zone. This means that we bear with each other's growing pains as we seek to imitate Christ. Only Satan uses guilt and shame as tools for motivation. If you find yourself using shame or guilt to persuade others or vice-versa, you need to escape this cycle of death. Even if the desired changes take place, the guilt and shame will still float around and attach themselves to some other part of your life. Kindness dispels that; it admits that we are all broken and that we accept that fact without wallowing in self-pity. Even an unkind joke can leave behind ripples that will play out in someone's life for several years. Consider Ephesians 4:29:

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

          Use every word as an opportunity to encourage and lift up those around you. The Pharisees in Jesus' time took an exact opposite approach. In Matthew 23:4-7, Jesus says,

4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

         They tied up heavy loads of guilt and condemnation for the common person to carry and didn't offer them any assistance in carrying those burdens. We don't help other people by placing extra burdens and doubts upon their shoulders. You will notice that Jesus points out the heart behind the Pharisees' actions: everything they do is for men to see. In other words, the reason why they were unkind to people and judgmental of their sin was to make themselves look more holy. Just the same, if we, as Christians, do not show kindness and forgiveness to those who fall, it is probably because we want to look holier than our fallen brethren. What better way to prove that one doesn't need as much grace than to point out someone who does need that grace?
        Listen! I really want you to meditate on this last verse, Luke 15:2:

2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

         Chew this one over. We are all sinners, right? The Pharisees were sinners. The people that Jesus met with were especially known for their open sin. However, let us, for a moment, take this statement by itself and think about it. Every person I COULD welcome is a sinner, even those who will not admit their sin. So what does it mean to welcome a sinner? It means to welcome someone as they truly are and to "eat with them", otherwise known as "doing life together". Not to place expectations on people they can't live up to. We welcome them to be themselves in a world of insecurity and fear. We become a safe harbor for people to dock and unload their cargo every single day.
          If you struggle with kindness, it might be because you have not addressed the guilt that you have towards your own sin. If that is the case, find a group of people that will welcome you and your baggage without judgment. It is hard for us to mimic what we have never experienced. Give them an opportunity to be kind to you so that you, in turn, may be kind to others.
In Christ,
Simeon Snow

Fruit of the Spirit Series: Patience- Part 4 of 9

           Patience is one of those virtues that is widely recognized in the world, not just in Christian circles. This can be seen in old adages like "Good things come to those who wait." However, this is also one of those truths that is usually countered by people who have seen the good results of ambition and initiative and, thus, we have the counter-adage: "Better things come to those who act." I have seen this attitude in churches, which are more often businesses these days, who are pushing for growth and results while doing very little to examine the quality of such growth. There is something to having a deeper community than one that is necessarily large (Although, there is nothing inherently wrong with large churches). Let us consider Proverbs 16:32:

32 Better a patient man than a warrior,    a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

          Would it be too much for me to say that God cares more about character than about results? The idea of a patient person outdoing someone who conquered a city seems in blatant contradiction with much of Western culture. I mean, who cares if you're patient if the job gets done? Isn't patience just a means to an end anyways? From what I remember, especially from the world's adages, the point of being patient is so that I can get what I want. However, I think we should take this verse to mean that God actually does care about our character, no matter how many people we are able to convert and disciple. Of course, those things are important to God, but I think we make too little of the personal qualities of ministers and instead judge them on numbers. There are a variety of megachurches with watered-down doctrine, especially health and wealth doctrine, that attracts a large following, but leaves those who come with an unquenched thirst for something more real.
          I talked recently with a disciple of mine about the three keys to ministry: prayer, faithfulness, and patience. (By the way, if you think this discussion about ministry only applies to pastors, you'd be wrong. When I say ministry, I mean what you did today and, in fact, what you are engaged in every day of your life. Your life abounds with opportunities and blessings that others are waiting to receive.) First, we approach God with prayer before we engage in today's ministries as well as whatever prayer happens throughout the day. Second, we are inwardly faithful in our spiritual disciplines and time with God as well as outwardly faithful in obeying God's commands, especially those that call us to love others. (These two forms of faithfulness can be seen as the two greatest commandments, Love God and Love Others.) Third, we wait patiently on God to take what we have given him and turn it into something big. Yet again, you can see that the Fruit of the Spirit, in this case Patience and Faithfulness, are intimately intertwined. You can see this theme of patience in ministry in 1 Corinthians 3: 6-9 and Mark 4:26-29:

 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

 26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

         Here, we can see that ministry is not done in a fearful way where we are constantly putting the pressure to gain results on our own heads. Instead, we pray to God, do what he has called us to do, and patiently wait on God to use our faithfulness to fulfill his goals and desires.
        In closing, consider James 4:13-16:

 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

       I have heard of pastors who said that if they were given an hour on national TV, they would be able to win several thousand souls to Christ. In response, I refer to John 15:5

 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Thank you for your time.
In Christ,
Simeon Snow 

Fruit of the Spirit Series: Peace- Part 3 of 9

            One of the best verses on peace in the Bible is John 14:27:

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

            Here, we can see very explicitly that there is a difference between the peace that the world gives and the peace that the Lord gives. I think it is pretty easy to see that the peace that comes from God has more to do with a firm confidence in the Lord and his purposes rather than necessarily being relaxed. This is the peace of God that stays around when we enter seasons of trials and sufferings, just like I mentioned with the fruit of Joy in the last post. In fact, there seems to be a strong connection between the fruits of joy and peace in the Bible. Take a look at Romans 15:13:

 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

              Here, we see that peace being present in our hearts is a working of the Holy Spirit in our lives that grows as we trust in him, and, combined with joy, leads the the overflowing of hope in our lives. This means that as we grow in our relationship with God over time, we learn to have both joy and peace in situations that look bleak because we know the one who is in control. No matter how things look, there is a hope that God  will deliver us from our situation with a knowledge that things will work out for the best, even if that result means suffering. Romans 8:28 tells us:

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

        When I say this, I do not mean that God does not have grace on our weakness and deliver us in the way that we hope he will. He is intimately connected with our hearts and can hear their cries. The Psalmist says in Psalm 38:9:

 9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.

        Therefore, I am not asking you to suppress your emotions in an attempt to be "spiritual". God welcomes our doubts and actually wants us to express those doubts. For instance, many people know about how Job showed peace and patience when the trials came into his life. However, many people do not meditate on the fact that Job called out to the Lord to relieve him of his sufferings and questioned God about his justice in the face of such a daunting situation. After Job was answered by God, he was commended for what he had said while his accusers, who were unwilling to ask God tough questions, were condemned for their treatment of Job and for not having spoken rightly of God. Job 42:7 shows this:

7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

         Therefore, peace is a state of trust in God that also trusts that God is tough enough to handle our difficult questions. Peace is a fruit that is grown over time, just like all the other fruit of the Spirit. This means that there are times to seek peace in everyday life at work, on the road, and at home. In these situations, whether they are incompetent customers, angry friends or family members, or irresponsible drivers, peace is not cultivated through the suppression of emotion, but by seeking out God's face and placing trust in him.
         Another word on peace: Many people view peace as a solitary fruit that is meant to be feasted on alone. However, peace is not meant to be kept to oneself; it is to be spread and cultivated into the lives of those around us. When we face trials and dark times, these experiences prepare us to comfort others who will go through similar times and we are responsible for using these dark experiences as gifts to those around us. Look at 2 Corinthians 1:3-7:

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

          There are two parts to this process: Firstly, we receive comfort from our God, who comforts us in all troubles. Secondly, we comfort others with the comfort that we received from God. This is done best in community, where several people can offer similar experiences and let the suffering friend know that they are not alone. This theme is echoed in 1 Peter 5:9 when it talks about resisting the devil:

 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

          Our knowledge of the suffering of our brethren is supposed to encourage and strengthen us as we face the battles of life. Not only the Christians who speak into your life, but Christians throughout world, and throughout history, have faced, are facing, and will face the same kind of trial that you now face. Take comfort in this because we know that God has shown himself faithful again and again in various manners and does not overlook any of his children who are in mourning. God will comfort you. In closing, meditate on Matthew 5:4:

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.

         Know that God will bless you and mend the tears in your heart, even the ones that are hidden from the rest of the world.
In Christ,
Simeon Snow

Fruit of the Spirit Series: Joy- Part 2 of 9

          To start out with, many people have a hard time knowing the difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is enjoying the current moment, is mostly an emotion, and tends to come and go very quickly. Joy, however is enjoying what God is doing in your life in the big picture, is more of a mindset than an emotion, and normally sticks around despite changing circumstances. As people pursuing the character of God, we do not ignore happiness, but we learn to focus more on joy than happiness. A word that helps understand joy is contentedness. Philippians 4:11-13 says:

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

           We learn over time that God means more to us than any temporary stage of life we are in. There is plenty in the Bible about enjoying the moment and beauty of life, but, more often, we are reminded that there is a God and a gospel that will carry us through any and every circumstance. We do not say that we are content because we have suppressed our natural desires. Instead, we learn that our truest desires are fulfilled through a passionate pursuit of God, as advised in Psalm 37:4:

4 Delight yourself in the Lord
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

           Also, please know that joy, along with the other fruit of the spirit, is not some sort of fake emotion that you are supposed to force on yourself in hard circumstances. The fruit of joy comes from spending time in intimacy with God. Also, as might be surprising, many times of great joy in our lives actually come in times of great sorrow. This is because we recognize that God is there for us, even in the harshest of times. This is a big release because God doesn't expect us to try to bottle up and hide our emotions from him. Check out Psalm 38:9:

9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.

              God wants us to lay all of our sighing before him. Pretending not to feel emotion in a trial is not strength; it is foolishness. In contrast, joy is cultivated by offering every day up to God and being determined that only he can bring fulfillment and direction to that day. Following this guideline, James 4:7-8 tells us:

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

          We learn over time that God really just wants us. He doesn't want to use us like some sort of a hammer, as if the only reason he wanted to grow in intimacy with us was so that he could save people or change the world. While those things are important to God, he really wants you. God is love and is motivated by it to draw you closer to himself. While the world will tell you to interpret today based on how you are feeling, God wants you to interpret today based on how he feels about you. This is the source of joy; this is the reason that joy tends to stay from day to day while other emotions fade. God's emotions do not fade away. God doesn't love you more because of some spiritual accomplishment; he doesn't love you less because you fell into sin. That's the way of the gospel: we come to God with nothing and he gives us everything, everyday. Think of 1 John 4:10:

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[a] our sins.

          To close, I want to point out that a verse says that both today's fruit, joy, and the next fruit, peace, come from trusting in God and letting him move in you. Romans 15:13 says:

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

See you next time!
In Christ,
Simeon Snow