Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Am I Like Jesus?

The Fruit of the Spirit is...
Love ~ One person said that those who need our love the most are the ones that deserve it the least. Have I shown unconditional love? The kind that keeps on loving no matter how much it is crushed and hurt? The kind that will love and never expect anything in return?
Joy ~ Have I been deceived into believing that my circumstances or pain some how negates my responsibility to obey Christ's command? Is my joy self-centered and based on me and how I feel, or is it based on a God that is the same yesterday, today and forever?
Peace ~ Do I trust God's every word immediately? Do I rest my heart in His command?
Patience ~ Be not angry that you can not make others who you wish them to be, when you yourself can not be who you wish to be. Do I have a patient spirit when others fall short? Do I meekly remember my shortcomings as well, or am I quick to be cutting and judgemental?
Kindness ~ How have I tried to brighten the day of another? Put a smile on somebody else's face? Christ has never been about what we get back. It's not a business deal. It's simpler than that. We are asked to love. We are simply asked to love. The rest pours out of that. How is that affecting my every day actions? Not in a superficial "be a good person" way but as a heart that wishes to minister for Christ.
Goodness ~ The Bible is packed full of examples of God's goodness and so are our lives. God is a good God. But how am I passing on that goodness to others? Am I selfishly hording the thing that God has given me? What about my money? Am I using that to bless others in return? What about my talents? Do I hide those away in shame and false humility refusing to let others see?
Faithfulness ~ My faithfulness is first of all dedicated to my Lord and Savior. My Anchor. Then there's the loyalty check. Am I fair weather fan or do I keep someone's back when they aren't around? When I give my word do I stick to it, no matter how much it hurts? Do I follow the Lord's impulses no matter how much it hurts me?
Gentleness ~ People will forget what you did, they'll forget what you said, but people don't forget how you made them feel. Are my words displaying the same gentleness that Christ has shown me? Do I have a soft and forgiving approach to others?
Self- Control ~ Do I die daily? Am I self-focused or do I let the self less focus of Christ permeate my being?

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