2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Examine yourselves. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. I would much rather inspect the fruit of another tree than take inventory of my own sometimes. The old saying, “Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. Our reactions reveal a lot about who we are on the inside. I am striving to learn to respond to God’s Promises rather than constantly reacting to the conditions and circumstances of life. The enemy will constantly try to sow seeds of doubt and discouragement to hinder the growth process of God’s Fruit in our life. It is His Constant Agenda and Overwhelming Passion to fuel any thought or idea that might take root to become fear, anxiety, unforgiveness, bitterness or the like. It’s easy to react. Reactions are driven by impulses and feelings. It is a spiritual discipline to learn how to respond to God’s Promises and hold tight to His Word when things aren’t going as one planned or hoped for.
Paul says, “Examine yourselves…test yourselves.” It is easy to find someone to blame. It is much harder to trust the Lord to work every detail of our life for good. To constantly sow good seeds of faith rather than unleashing fury when things don’t seem to bearing the right kind of fruit or given the desired results. I am not responsible for attitude and actions of others. I am responsible for my own. It is up to me to behave in the disciplined and dearly loved role of God’s Child who is filled with Jesus Christ.
John 15:5 (ESV) I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
To abide in Jesus Christ is to bear much fruit. Those who live in love with Jesus cannot help but prosper. The prosperity of our life begins in our soul. The environment of our life is conducive to spiritual growth. It is up to us to sow Kingdom seeds in the hard ground of human nature to allow God to prepare us for natural prosperity that only comes with spiritual growth and development. To covet another person’s garden or think the grass is greener on the other side is to believe that God has favorites and that I am not favored by the Living God. Not true. I must examine my fruit. Allowing God to prune my vine. To live so in love and involved with Jesus that I know and understand that He has already given me a rich and satisfying life to be cultivated in our walk together.
Luke 6:43-45 (ESV) “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
It is easy to inspect the fruit of others. To judge them in the moment rather than giving the same grace that is required by us. However, I must always focus on my own tree. The fruit of my tree must be of the Spirit. The Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” The first fruit is always love. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” God defined love. We cannot change the characteristics of love and still please God. The Word of God stands as the Truth that governs and details our life. The first fruit is love. I must daily inspect my tree for it. It is the beginning of all things in Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son. If I give away all I have and produce every other fruit but have not love…I gain nothing.
John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The fruit of my life must be love. Not my interpretation of love, but by God’s Definition. I must examine the fruit of my tree. I must test myself. My faith is dependent on the Spirit cultivating godly fruit in my life beginning with love. People will know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ if I love them properly. Completely. Soul-ly. Purposefully. The way that Jesus loves us. Even when we rebel, run from or hurt Him, His Grace is always enough.
Lord, examine me today. Help me properly access my own fruit rather than looking at the productivity of others. Keep me focused on my garden and the brokenness that is possibility in my own heart. You know exactly what you are doing. I do not trust man, Lord I trust You! Let my life overflow with an abundance of good fruit that feeds others the love and goodness that You have so graciously given to me!
Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Pure Devotion 