When it comes to food, I’m fairly adventurous. I will try most things at least once. This past week, I saw a jar on the shelf of a store that caught my eye and said ‘what is this?’ as I picked it up. It looked like uniform meat chunks and had the title ‘fishlets’ on the label, which didn’t help explain it to me. So, I looked at the ingredients and could then understand better what this was made of…fish, mostly. As ingredients are listed from greatest to least, thanks to the label, I now had a better understanding what I would be getting into. I put it back on the shelf.
But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Matthew 15:18
What are you made of? You may remember the nursery rhyme “What are little boys made of? Snips and Snails and Puppy Dogs’ tails,” which for most guys, hearing it once was enough. No one wants to be told that they are made of garbage, or that they will never amount to anything, or any other derogatory term you can come up with. But some of that is true. We all have our flaws and shortcomings, but we don’t like to put those traits out there for all to see. Just like when we are courting someone, we put our best foot forward and try to downplay those things we know may make a bad impression. We also know girls are not always ‘sugar and spice and all things nice’, but may be made of the much of the same things as men. We have all been sinners, and may still fall short in the future, but are more aware of our sin when it happens, and should be quick to seek forgiveness. We no longer seek to remain in sin.
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11
What would we find on your ingredient label? What would others say about you…”he’s mostly a good guy!” I believe what he says most of the time. As with anyone, it would probably be a mix of good and bad things including mostly what they would have seen in your actions and the words you have said. This would be acts of self- sacrifice, lies, anger, worship, actions of integrity, selfishness and so on. But what is your main ingredient? It probably depends on the day. Once we are born again, most of the things that others observe should include a majority of the fruit of the spirit. While we may not be there all the time, as you grow closer to God, these will be more evident in your life. Let us encourage one another in our good fruit and acts and try to leave a good taste that will keep others wanting more of what you have as we go through this life!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Strength and Courage in Christ,
Clark
