To Flourish in Peace We Need to Understand Peace

    I would like to share with you something that I read while studying and researching the word ‘peace,’ which in Hebrew is ‘shalom’ and in Greek, ‘eirene.’ 

“Shalom really means everything that makes for a man’s highest good, all that makes life life indeed. In English peace has come to have something of a negative meaning. It is apt to mean the absence of war and the absence of trouble. For instance, if in a campaign hostilities actually came to an end and there was no more fighting we would be likely to say that there was peace; but quite certainly the Hebrew would not call a situation where there was a blasted earth, and where people still regarded each other with a kind of terrified suspicion, peace. …The greeting salaam does not simply express the negative wish that a man’s life may be free from trouble; it expresses the positive hope and prayer that he may enjoy all good gifts and blessings from the hand of God. In thinking of the meaning of peace, both in the Old and New Testament, it is essential to bear in mind the positive meaning of the word.” (William Barclay, Flesh and Spirit, 1962)

    Can you understand why love comes before peace in most every list of qualities a Christian is to have?

    We need to have a heart that learns to truly love – undefeatable goodwill and benevolence that seeks only good for the other – in order to pursue peace which is a sincere wish that the other will be blessed with ‘everything that makes for man’s highest good.’

    All too often we are content with a peace that is only visible on the surface. We think, ‘there are no negative interactions, no outward upset, so we’re at peace right?’ Yet our hearts are disappointed, discouraged, angry, frustrated, irritated, or fuming. Our hearts are so darkened that the very idea of hoping that our fellow man has everything that makes for their highest good is something we sneer and scoff at. God wants us to pursue true peace, and it begins in the heart.

 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 NKJV)

    We are to let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), rule in our hearts. “Rule” comes from the Greek word ‘brabeuo’ (G1018) which means to govern, prevail. So we are to let the peace of God govern our hearts, to let it prevail in our hearts.

    Prevail means to prove more powerful than opposing forces. It wins. It should always win. Paul tells us that the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7), it will prove itself more powerful than any opposing forces, when we let it rule in our hearts.

    So, how do we flourish in peace and let it rule in our hearts, and conquer our negative thinking?

Give your concerns to God and be thankful (Philippians 4:6-9, Colossians 3:15-17) Burdened with ‘what-if’ thinking and imagining worst-case scenarios? Give every one of your worries to God and then use your thinking for good by taking inventory of all that you have in your life (Psalm 68:19) and all that you have been blessed with through Jesus (Romans 8:31-39, Ephesians 1:3-14, 1 John 3:1-3) and thank God for them all! Then busy yourself with doing good for your household, your brethren, and your neighbours while remembering how abundantly He has blessed you (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3:8, 14)!

Follow Jesus’ instruction (Matthew 5:44) Are you finding yourself having imaginary conversations, arguments, or confrontations with someone, in your mind? This type of thinking prevents peace from ruling in our hearts – Jesus gives us a better way:

• Do you have an enemy? Don’t be an enemy to them, instead be kind toward them, love them.
• Has someone cursed you or spoken evil against you? Don’t retaliate with the same, instead speak only good about them, bless them.
• Does someone hate you? Don’t let your heart build up hate toward them, instead search for ways to do good to them.
• Does someone purposefully try to hurt you, belittle you, or infuriate you? Don’t seek revenge, instead overcome the evil with good by purposefully praying for them.

    Doing it God’s way will allow peace to rule in your heart, it will allow you to truly hope that God’s blessings will be upon them. And although these trials may continue for some time, going through them with God and His instruction will allow you to flourish in strength, resilience, wisdom, faith, and peace.

    God’s way IS the best way! How wonderful that He provides SO much help to us so that we can serve Him properly and thrive in this life!! To God be the glory, great things He has done!!

    Consider your heart this week and consider what peace truly means. Are you allowing God’s peace to rule in your heart? Is your heart truly at peace with your family, friends, brethren, and neighbours? Can you sincerely hope for them everything that makes for their highest good?

    Take time to read 1 Peter 3:8-12 each day this week. Be mindful of your many thoughts and determine to let God’s peace rule in your heart! Always seek for His peace so you can truly flourish in it and share it with others!

You can do it! So can I!!   

Flourishing Even More in Peace - Think on These Things

    Peace, perfect peace.

    It is more than just a quiet moment after a chaotic day. It is a quiet mind and a calm heart even amidst the chaos.

    Is it attainable? YES! What God commands, we can do; what God promises, He will do!

    Consider for a moment James 1:5-8. James warns against being double-minded (vv6-8). The term double-minded holds the idea of being anxious, that stress-inducing battle between rational and irrational thought. It is a mind that is not at peace.

    God wants us to have peace. He instructs us to "be anxious for nothing" in Philippians 4:6, and He does not leave it at that, He tells us exactly what needs to be done to overcome anxiety and ‘be at one again’ in our mind and heart: "in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

    While your Bible is open to Philippians 4, continue reading through verse 8; God in His loving provision also gave us instruction in how to maintain the peace He grants us, instructions that will help us develop a new focus for our thoughts as we obey the command to “meditate on these things.”  The things mentioned in this verse – things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy – give us a multi-faceted defense against the devil’s ploys and deceptions.

Anxiety comes from giving ear to the devil, but peace comes from giving everything to God.

    By giving us a command to meditate on these things, God is training us to ward off the devil:

• The devil will tell us lies (John 8:44, Revelation 12:9), but if we are meditating on what is TRUE you will not believe his lies and you will quickly squelch them by recalling the truth to your mind (Hebrews 5:14).
• The devil will try to draw our attention to immoral people (celebrities, influencers, athletes) that appear to ‘have it all’ (read and consider Psalm 73) and try to convince us that they are worthy of our awe and fandom, but if we are meditating on what is NOBLE, we won’t be easily impressed or swayed by worldly standards of nobility.
• The devil will try to convince us that anger, retaliation, and revenge is the best way to treat people who have hurt us (consider Cain in Genesis 4:1-15, and Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34, 49:5-6, and Joshua 19:1-9) but if we are meditating on what is JUST we will be well-versed in God’s true justice and learn mercy and grace because we have needed it so very often ourselves (consider Matthew 5:44-48, 6:14-15).
• The devil will infiltrate every form of media with impurities – commercials, TV shows, movies, videos, music, books, magazines, podcasts, etc. – to fill our minds with impure thoughts and impure judgments (consider Matthew 15:19-20), but if we are meditating on what is PURE we will be repulsed by impurities and flee from them (Romans 12:9, 2 Timothy 2:22).
• The devil will try to convince us that we must attain the world’s standard for “beauty” (as well as its immodesty and vanity, consider 1 Peter 3:3), but if we meditate on what is truly LOVELY we will not become self-centred and vain, and our standard will be to behave in a way that is “very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:4).
• The devil will try to tempt you into gossip and slander (Proverbs 26:22), but if we meditate on what is OF GOOD REPORT we will be repulsed and stop the gossip in its tracks so “the fire goes out” (Proverbs 26:20-21).
• The devil will try to lower our standards so we give of our time and our means to worthless pursuits. He will try to keep us from seeing what is truly worthy of our time and attention, but if we are meditating on what is VIRTUOUS we will keep a higher standard and make better use of our time and we will also support those who are making efforts in doing what is good and right (Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15).
• The devil will try to make us feel hard done by so that we grow lax and begin to forget all that God has done, is doing, and promises yet to do, but if we are meditating on what is PRAISEWORTHY we will be filled with ever-increasing gratitude and appreciation for God and His wondrous way, His lovingkindness (mercy) and His faithfulness (Psalm 92:1-2, Romans 12:1-2).

    We go through many struggles and hardships in our lives, but through it all God is more than willing to supply His abundant peace, all He is asks of us is to give over our worries and anxieties, ask Him for His help, and keep our minds thinking on what is good (Colossians 3:1-17) so we can daily quench the fiery darts of the devil (Ephesians 6:16, James 4:7).

    Our gracious Father is ready, willing, and able to provide His peace! Are you willing to give your worries to God in exchange for His perfect peace? Are you ready and willing to learn and meditate on all the good and proper things that God has provided in His word so you can maintain His perfect peace? Let’s determine today to trust God more, to believe His promises (Hebrews 11:6), and flourish even more in peace!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing Even More - in Peace with God

    It is time for new study, something more we can flourish in, let’s now try to flourish even more in 2024 in peace. If the Lord wills, over the next few weeks we will study to gain a better understanding of peace so that we can truly “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14) as God commands. We will look at all things that pertain to it: how to attain it, how to maintain it, and how to be at peace with God, our brethren, and mankind.

    For today, I would like you to consider these two verses that command us to pursue peace:

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (1 Timothy 2:22 NKJV)

“Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:11 NKJV)

    In both of these passages we are given instruction to turn and run away from evil, and eagerly seek after peace. The peace spoken of in both these verses means 'being at one again.' When we sin we are no longer ‘at one’ with God (consider Isaiah 59:1-2), we have followed after something in the opposite direction from God (James 1:14-15).

    Jesus is our peace (please take the time today to read Ephesians 2), it is Jesus’ sacrifice that grants us access to the Father so we may come boldly to the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace (Hebrews 4:16); it is only through His willing sacrifice that we can be forgiven (1 John 1:5-10), when we wholly repent* of our sin.

*Repent means to: recognize you are lost in sin, regret what you have done, resolve to turn your back on sin and sinful habits, reform your life to keep from sin, and return to your Father, wholly submitting to His will (borrowed from my Dad’s sermon yesterday morning)

    If you are not a Christian and realize you have sinned, you need to repent of your sin and be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), because every spiritual blessing, including redemption and forgiveness of sins, are only found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). When you are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4), it is described as being buried with Him into death (putting to death and burying the sinful person you were) and just as Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father, you too are raised to walk in “newness of life” – with a clean slate – a new life in which you learn to choose God and His way every day (alongside those who also call on the Lord out of pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22-26) instead of the ways of the devil (1 John 2:15-17, 5:18-20).  

    If you are a Christian and realize you have sinned you need to repent of your sin and run to God and confess your sin to Him; He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

    We are no longer to be participating in sin – Jesus died to redeem us from the bondage of sin and grant us peace with our Father, why would we choose to return to the destructive ways of sin when we have access to restorative peace with God? Appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice and joy in your peace with God! Turn from evil, abhor it and its ways, and cling to God and His way (consider Romans 6:1-23, 12:9, and Ephesians 4:17-24)!

    Jesus provided the way – take it! Make your life right with God! If you need to come to the Lord or come back to the Lord, let today be the day!!

You can do it! So can I!!

If you would like to talk more about how to become a Christian
please email me – I would love to talk to you about it!

I've written a Bible study/devotional book for women titled, Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and it is available in the United States, direct from the publisher: Gospel Armory Publishing 

It is also available through amazon (click your region):

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

GERMANY

HOLLAND

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

UNITED STATES

Faithfully Flourishing Subscribers - BIG NEWS!

    *Update* I have discovered that my book is only available on Canadian amazon site (NOT the US site, or other worldwide sites, sorry!). For anyone in the US, it is available from the Gospel Armory (Publishing) site in the US - and at a discounted price until July 9th. I have now added the US link below for my American subscribers. 

    I wanted to let everyone know that I have a Bible study/devotional book that just became available on amazon .ca (Canadian site) on July 6th. 

    Ephesians 5:19 says we are to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" and Colossians 3:16 tells us to teach and admonish (warn) one another in psalms and hymns an spiritual songs, so I spent a year writing/teaching from only the Psalms (selected from the book of Psalms), selected hymns (commonly found in hymn books used in church services), and spiritual songs (the songs found throughout the Bible) - this book is the result of that effort.

    Read Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs with an open Bible beside you and turn to the passages I reference in each lesson; if you do that I know God's words will motivate and strengthen your determination to honour and serve Him, and I hope my words will encourage you to keep growing and flourishing in your faith!

Canadians: Click here to read a sample and/or purchase a copy of 

Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs on amazon.

Americans: Click here to purchase a copy direct from the publisher 

(Gospel Armory, Bowling Green Kentucky)

Flourishing in Fruit – A Summary

    Over the past several weeks we have looked at the Bible verses that tell us the importance of flourishing in fruit. 

God has provided all we need and expects us to bear good fruit (read and consider Isaiah 5:1-4)

    God wants us to produce good fruit. We, as Christians and members of the kingdom of God, are to be bearing the good fruit of God’s kingdom (consider Matthew 21:43). Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruits (Matthew 12:33), and we have within us (as humans with free will) the potential to bear either the fruit of sin (which leads to death) or the fruit to holiness (which leads to everlasting life, Romans 6:21-23); we can choose to be either a tree lost in the darkness of the devil’s decaying orchard or we can be planted and flourishing in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:13-14).

“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19 NKJV)

We must be mindful of what buds in our hearts/minds 

    Just as the farmer is watchful of the bud formation knowing it leads to fruit, we also need to be very attentive to what buds in our hearts/minds and determine whether a bud ought to be nipped immediately or nurtured to blossom and develop fruit. We need to be using God’s word (hearing it and doing it, James 1:21-27) so that our senses are exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:13-14).

    Examine the buds developed (and developing) in your mind; nip the bad ones to allow room for the good ones to flourish! The health of your soul is worth the daily, if not the moment to moment, efforts needed to keep yourself pure (1 John 3:3) and holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) so you can flourish even more in good fruit!!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV)

Our conduct is our fruit

• repentance (Matthew 3:8) – making the changes that prove that we have turned our backs to ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:22) while clinging to what is good (Romans 12, John 14:6)
• righteousness (Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:9-11) – doing what is right in God’s sight, according to His commands and instructions (James 1:21-25, 1 John 3:7)
• good works (Colossians 1:9-11) – doing good for others, generously sharing our blessings with them (Psalm 68:19, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

Our words are our fruit

    Jesus said that our words come from the storehouses of our hearts (Matthew 12:34-35). Those who love Him should always be working to have good storehouses that are well-curated (and carefully guarded), guided by God’s good and perfect will, and full of the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 5:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 12:3-11) so that the words we draw from our hearts are good and beneficial (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6).

“I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:1a NKJV)

When we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit can bear His fruit in our lives (read and consider Galatians 5:16-26)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10 NKJV)

When we live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit (allowing God’s word to transform us, Romans 12:2, James 1:21-25, 1 John 2:15-17), and when we work continually to identify and remove the debris of selfishness/selfish ambitions/lusts (Hebrews 5:14), then our hearts will be a good soil (Matthew 13:23) in which the Spirit can develop and bear His fruit.

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)  

When we flourish in bearing good fruit God will be glorified!

    Bearing good and proper fruit only happens when we abide in the True Vine and when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We need to hear God’s words (in His word, the Bible), take them into our heart, and purpose to do what He says (James 1:21-25). Hearing the word is the seed planted, thinking on it and allowing it to shape our thoughts and choices is the seed taking root, and then doing and saying what He has instructed through His word is bearing fruit. Consider the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. When we do this, God will be glorified!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” (excerpt from John 15:1-8 NKJV)

    It will always be an excellent use of our time to read and study God’s word. Learning more about Him and His way is the best – and only – way to transform our hearts (Romans 12:1-2) so that they become storehouses of good things that we can share with others through our words and actions. When we purify our hearts (1 John 3:1-3) we clear the debris from the soil of our hearts and make it a good receptacle for the Spirit to bear His fruit. And we can flourish in good fruit that will bring glory to our wondrous Father in heaven!!

From wherever you are right now, determine that you will 

flourish even more in 2024 in bearing good fruit!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Fruit – That God May Be Glorified!

    I would like you to consider a few verses today as we near the end of our Flourishing in Fruit study. These verses tell us one of the important reasons why we must be developing and bearing fruit – so that God will be glorified!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15 NKJV)

    As we studied earlier, our conduct is our fruit – this includes good works (which we were created to do, Ephesians 2:10) – and so, when others see, it will cause them to look to God, praise Him, and thank Him!

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser… I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing… By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.” (excerpt from John 15:1-8 NKJV)

    Bearing good and proper fruit only happens when we abide in the True Vine and when His words abide in us (John 15:7). We need to hear God’s words (in His word, the Bible), take them into our heart, and purpose to do what He says (James 1:21-25). Hearing the word is the seed planted, thinking on it and allowing it to shape our thoughts and choices is the seed taking root, and then doing and saying what He has instructed through His word is bearing fruit. Consider the parable of the sower in Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. When we do this, God will be glorified!

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NKJV)

    We need to be practicing righteousness (1 John 3:7) – making a daily determination to know more of Jesus so we can walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6). When we are filled with the fruits of righteousness God will be glorified!!

    What does glorifying God mean? It means that one is recognizing His wondrous value and awesome substance. They are valuing Him for who He really is, esteeming Him worthy of all praise.

    When we obey His commands – abide in His word, practice righteousness, do good works – we are declaring Him to be wise, we are proclaiming His word to be truth and worthy of attention and obedience. Read and consider Romans 12:1-2 – we prove to ourselves and the world that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect when we let it transform us!  

    Are you bearing fruit that will glorify God?

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Fruit – The Fruit of the Spirit

    So far in our study of ‘Flourishing in Fruit’ we have learned about the need to bear good fruit – by which God is glorified and we show ourselves to be disciples of Jesus (John 15:5, 8) – and that we need to work to keep our hearts pure because that is where our fruit develops (please read and consider Matthew 12:33-37). We have also taken a closer look at the fruit we bear: our conduct (fruit of repentance: Matthew 3:8, fruit of righteousness: Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:10, and fruit of good works/generosity: Colossians 1:9-11) and our words (Hebrews 13:15, Matthew 12:33-37). These two areas of our lives – what we do and what we say – reveal our heart to others.

    Now, I would like you to open your Bible to Galatians 5:16-26 and take the time to read this passage and consider the fruit that the Spirit bears in us. 

    There are two types of fruit depicted here: the fruit of the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the flesh is developed by serving self in selfish pursuits and the fruit of the Spirit is developed by serving God in godly* pursuits

*godly = worthy (Colossians 1:9-11), profitable (Titus 3:8, 14), kind (Philippians 2:3-4; 4:5), pious (2 Timothy 2:22), reverent (Hebrews 12:28)

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24 NKJV)

    Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24-26 that we are to deny self, take up our cross, and follow Him. The apostle Paul echoes this when he gave instruction to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1, and think on his statement in Galatians 2:20). When we are baptized we bury the old man of sin and we rise to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4), we “put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24); it is not about us and our selfish wants and desires anymore, we devote ourselves to God and serving Him acceptably (Hebrews 12:28, Ephesians 5:15-17). This is a daily endeavour, a determination we make from the moment we open our eyes each morning, and one that we remind ourselves of throughout our day.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10 NKJV)

    When we live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit (allowing God’s word to transform us, Romans 12:2, James 1:21-25, 1 John 2:15-17), and when we work continually to identify and remove the debris of selfishness/selfish ambitions/lusts (Hebrews 5:14), then our hearts will be a good soil (Matthew 13:23) in which the Spirit can develop and bear His fruit.

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV)  

• Love: 1 John 3:16-23; 4:7-5:5, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• Joy: Philippians 4:4 (the whole letter to the Philippians is filled with joy), John 15:9-17
• Peace: Philippians 4:6-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Romans 12:18
• Longsuffering: James 1:2-4, Colossians 1:9-11, 1 Peter 8-11
• Kindness: John 15:14, Romans 12:9-21, Philippians 2:1-4, 1 Corinthians 9:7-8, Ephesians 4:29-32
• Goodness: Psalm 16:2, Galatians 6:9-10, Ephesians 2:10
• Faithfulness: Matthew 24:12-13, Hebrews 10:35-39
• Gentleness: Philippians 4:5, Colossians 3:6, 1 Peter 3:1-4, James 1:21
• Self-Control: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 13:4, James 1:19, 2 Peter 1:5-11

    Please reread Galatians 5:16-26. Are these fruit developing in your heart and visible/becoming visible in your life? Or are you allowing selfishness and selfish desires to impede the development of the Spirit’s fruit? We need to be clearing the soil of our hearts, allowing it to be nourished by the Light (John 1:1-14; 3:19-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) and the living water (John 4:14, Matthew 5:6) so that the Spirit can bear His fruit in our lives! Are you preparing your heart for His fruit? 

It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourishing in Fruit – Our Words Are Our Fruit (Part 2)

    Jesus tells us plainly in Matthew 7:15-20 that a tree is known by its fruit, and in Matthew 12:33-37 He explains that our words are our fruit. Our words are drawn from the storehouse we each curate: our hearts, so we need to be vigilant concerning what we allow into our hearts/minds (read and consider Philippians 4:8).

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:22 NKJV)

    I would like you to take a look at the fruit in the lists below – some are from good storehouses, well-curated and full of the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 5:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 12:3-11) while the others are from storehouses that are neither guarded by their keepers nor guided by God’s good and perfect will; they are in desperate need of a thorough cleaning and a careful restock – as you read through these lists please take an honest look the fruit you have borne recently – have your words come from a storehouse that is full of God’s light or from one where the light is dimmed by dust and decay?

“I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:1a NKJV)

 Our Words Are Our Fruit:

• True words (Ephesians 4:25, Philippians 4:8)
• Edifying and gracious words (Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 16:24)
• Words seasoned with salt (Colossians 3:10)
• Gentle words (Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 4:5, Titus 3:2)
• Patient words (Proverbs 15:18, Colossians 1:9-11, James 1:19-20)
• Fitly spoken words (Proverbs 25:11)
• Wise words (Proverbs 4:1-27; 18:4, James 1:5; 3:13-17)
• Words that teach good things (Titus 2:3-5)
• Discreet words (Titus 2:3-5, 1 Peter 4:8)
• Humble words (Micah 6:8, Philippians 2:1-11, James 4:7-10
• Words that proclaiming God’s praises (1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 63:3-5, 104:33)
• Words that magnifying God and declaring His greatness (Psalm 34:1-3, Romans 15:4-6, Jude 25)
• Words of thanks and gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:15, Ephesians 1:3-14, 5:20, Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Words of warning (1 Thessalonians 5:14, James 5:19-20)
• Praying words (Matthew 5:44, Ephesians 6:18-19, James 5:13-18, 1 Peter 4:7)
• Singing words (James 5:13, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16)
• Words of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17, Romans 15:4-6)
• Words spoken in the name of Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17)
• Merciful words (Matthew 5:44, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60, Ephesians 4:32, 6:14-15)
• Trusting words (Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:4-7, John 6:68)
• Trustworthy words (Proverbs 10:9, Matthew 5:37)

………..

• Grumbling and complaining words (Philippians 2:4, 1 Peter 4:9, Jude 16)
• Complaining words against government and authorities (Exodus 22:28, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 2:17)
• Back-biting and deceitful words (Proverbs 25:23, Romans 1:28-32; 3:10-14)
• Words of gossip and slander (Proverbs 16:27-30, Ephesians 4:31, 1 Timothy 5:11-16)
• Great swelling words and flattering words (Psalm 12:1-4, Proverbs 20:19, 26:28, Romans 16:17-18, Jude 16)
• Cruel and reviling words (Psalm 64:3, Proverbs 15:1, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
• Lying (Proverbs 26:28, Colossians 3:9-10, Revelation 22:15)
• Idle words (Psalm 12:1-4, Matthew 12:36-37, 1 Timothy 5:11-16)
• Angry words and outbursts of wrath (Psalm 4:4-5, Ephesians 4:26; 31 Colossians 3:8)
• Cursing, swearing, and lewd words (Ephesians 4:17-24: 5:1-7, Colossians 3:8)
• Speaking God’s name flippantly and without thought (Exodus 20:7, Matthew 6:9)
• Sharing coarse and rude jokes (Ephesians 5:1-7)
• Proud words (Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:12, 16:5, Luke 14:11)
• Words of discord (Proverbs 6:12-19, James 4:1-2, Titus 3:9-11)  
• Envious words (Titus 3:3, James 3:14)

“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:10-12 and Psalm 34:12-16a NKJV)

    God’s peace is to rule in our hearts – our storehouses – (Colossians 3:15) and we are to love Him with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole mind (Matthew 22:37). Let’s take careful inventory of our storehouses and prayerfully replace the evil we may there with what is good (Romans 12:9, 21) so we can “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15)!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourishing in Fruit: Our Words Are Our Fruit (Part 1)

    Over the past few weeks we have looked at how our conduct is our fruit:

• Fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8) – making the changes that prove that we have turned our backs to ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:22) while clinging to what is good (Romans 12, John 14:6)
• Fruit of righteousness (Philippians 1:9-11, 2 Corinthians 9:9-11) – doing what is right in God’s sight, according to His commands and instructions (James 1:21-25, 1 John 3:7)
• Fruit of good works (Colossians 1:9-11) – doing good for others, generously sharing our blessings with them (Psalm 68:19, 2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

    Now, I would like you to consider another fruit we all produce: words, “the fruit of our lips” (Hebrews 13:15)

    We live in a world in which communication has become everything. While most communication devices were at one time tethered to a wall in our houses, technology has advanced to a point where we now carry these devices with us at all times – you may even be reading this post on your device. There was a time when we only had phone calls during the daylight hours, a time when we were content to wait for mailed letters to arrive, and a time when television stations shut off all programming after the 11 o’clock news, but now we have access to all sorts of communication on our devices twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and when emails or texts are sent, instantaneous replies are now expected no matter the time of day or night.

    In Part 1 of this series I would like you to consider the fruit you bear online, because if you type it, it’s your fruit, and if you click ‘share,’ ‘like,’ or ‘love,’ you are endorsing it, and it becomes your fruit as well, as it is seen by others. Think about the things you look at and the things you post, like, and share, are they things that God would approve of? Are they befitting a Christian?

    Every person with access can now communicate to the world whatever is in their heart – and those words are not always good, yet they are still put on display and even promoted in the seemingly endless ‘fruit’ market of social media. What sort of fruit are you taking to this market? Are you trying your best to post (and share) things that will uplift others, and/or shine God’s light? Or are you using social media to share rude humour, complain, vent, or rant? We need to be mindful of the words we share!

“With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10 NKJV)

    Christians are commanded to meditate on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), we are to purify ourselves (1 John 3:3) and keep ourselves pure (2 Timothy 2:19-21), and be holy in all our conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16) – this includes our time online. We need to be especially careful of what we allow into our minds and hearts as we scroll through posts and videos because what we allow to be communicated to us will, in turn, become what we communicate to others (consider 1 Corinthians 15:33, Psalm 1:1, Proverbs 26:22). Our words are our fruit and development of that fruit begins in our heart (Matthew 12:33-35) – we bear fruit as we communicate online.  

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak. They will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:35-37 NKJV)

    What are you consuming in the world’s fruit market? Are you finding the fruit that is good and wholesome; fruit that will nourish your soul and give you a healthy storehouse from which you draw your words? Or are you grazing your way through the buffet of filthy fruit that will deteriorate your storehouse and cause you to form bad thoughts, words, and habits?

    Think on these things this week! Our words are important – God knows every single one of them – so, from this very day, determine to be even more mindful to use your time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17) and be watchful of the words you ‘bear’ online!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourishing in Fruit: Our Conduct is Our Fruit (Part 3)

Fruit of Generosity and Good Works

    So far in our ‘Flourishing in Fruit’ series, we have learned that God expects us to develop fruit (John 15:8, Matthew 12:33); He has provided all the knowledge, sustenance, and nourishment we need to do just that (read and think on Isaiah 5:1-4). We have learned that we need to be aware of what buds (or springs up) in our hearts/minds, being careful to identify and pluck out the bad thoughts so that they do not develop to fruit (words/action, Matthew 12: 34-35). From this we came to understand that our conduct is our fruit, it is the end result of our thoughts and intentions: our repentance of past sins will become obvious to others as we make changes and remove bad habits from our daily routines (Matthew 3:8, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11) and in the process of aligning ourselves with God and the Truth our righteousness will become evident to others (Philippians 1:9-11, and consider 1 Timothy 4:15, 3 John 3, 12).

    Now, let’s look at one more way our conduct is our fruit: good works. Paul referred to the generosity of the brethren as their “fruit” in both Romans 15:27-28 and Philippians 4:15-17. Doing good works are beneficial (Titus 3:8) and oftentimes visible to others, they are the end result of our heart’s intent and they are our fruit.

    Side note: We don’t do good just to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1-4), but to show others the goodness of God and give Him the glory (Matthew 5:16).

“And God is able to make every grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)

    God blesses us abundantly (Psalm 68:19) so that we can generously give to others. It is always our hope that those who receive these good things will give glory to God and be thankful to Him for it (Matthew 5:16). Read and consider Matthew 25:34-46 and Romans 12:3-8. We all have differing abilities, but God gives us all ability to use them to do good: sometimes it may be the giving on our time (2 Corinthians 12:15a), giving the work of our hands (Dorcas, Acts 9:36-43, Proverbs 31:20), sharing of our goods (the brethren, Acts 4:32-37), or simply sharing God’s comfort to others in their troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When there is a need, think on what you can do to alleviate it.  

"And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful." (Titus 3:14 NKJV)

    Paul prays about this fruit as well, in Colossians 1:9-11, expressing his hope for its development and his desire that the brethren in Colossae may flourish in good things:

• That they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (knowing the true value of God’s will and wisdom, v9)
• That they may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him (practicing righteousness, v10)
• Being fruitful in every good work (v10)
• Increasing in the knowledge of God (v10)
• Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy (v11)

    What you do is your fruit. What are you doing?  

    Are you looking out only for yourself or do you love your neighbour as yourself; gladly sharing with them what God has blessed you with? Do you look for opportunities to do good (Galatians 6:9-10, 2 Thessalonians 3:13)? God does His part, are you doing your part? Do you bear the fruit of generosity and good works?

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourishing in Fruit: Our Conduct is Our Fruit (Part 2)

The Fruit of Righteousness   

    In our last lesson we learned about the fruit of repentance and how Paul’s rebuke (see 1 Corinthians 5) led the Corinthian brethren to bear that fruit (2 Corinthians 7:8-12). I believe we can also conclude that the Corinthians went on to bear the fruit of righteousness, because Hebrews 12:11 teaches us that God’s chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness by those who are trained by it. When we are corrected by God (through His word, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 1:16-17) and allow ourselves to be molded and trained by what He says – repenting by removing the bad and implementing the good (just as the Corinthians brethren did) – then we, too, can go on to develop the fruit of righteousness!

    In Philippians 1:9-11 we read Paul’s prayer for the brethren in Philippi:

• that their love might abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (v9)
• that they might approve the things that are excellent (v10)
• that they may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ (v10)
• be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God (v11)

    Righteousness is doing what is approved by God. For example: walking in love (Ephesians 5:1-7, 1 John 4:7-11), walking in the light (John 3:16-21, Ephesians 5:8-14), and walking in wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-21). It is the daily, ongoing determination to obey God’s commands and instructions (1 John 3:7), not our own notions of what we think is “right’ or ‘good’ (consider 1 Corinthians 10:2-3). Read and think on 1 John 2:3-6; if we walk just as Jesus walked and follow His steps (1 Peter 2:20-24) we can be sure of the path - and God will be glorified!

“He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honour.” (Proverbs 21:21 NKJV)

    Another needed part for the production of this fruit is found in James 3:18; there James tells us that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:18). He states this truth immediately after talking of the untamable tongue and the need for wisdom that comes from above (Hebrews 3:1-17); a wisdom that teaches us good conduct (good fruit production) by purifying our hearts/minds of cursing, bitter envy, and self-seeking.

    God’s wisdom enables us to live in peace (and contentment, Philippians 4:4-13), because when we walk uprightly (Psalm 37:37), we can be at peace with God (1 John 1:9, Acts 8:21-24) and with man (Matthew 5:22-26, 44-48, Ephesians 4:26-27). We are to pursue peace with all people (Hebrews 12:14, Romans 12:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-4), without it we cannot hope to see God. If we want to be aligned with God, we must ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and use that wisdom to develop the fruit of righteousness (Ephesians 5:17)!

    What you do is your fruit. What are you doing?  

    Do you recall God to your mind each morning, ask Him for wisdom, and determine to walk with careful consideration of His commands and instructions throughout your day? Do you do your very best to learn what is right in God's sight by reading and studying His word and by putting it into practice; making it an ongoing effort throughout your lifetime so you can abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Hebrews 5:14)? Do you train yourself to recall God's instructions to your mind and follow them so that you can walk in sincerity and without offence and live in peace with Him and with mankind? These choices will encourage the fruit of righteousness to develop and flourish in our lives!

You can do it! So can I!!