In a brief article in a book I read, this story was found.

         In the book The Ascent of a Leader, Bruce McNicol and Bill Thrall tell us of a woman who has a dream where she wanders into a shop at the mall and finds Jesus behind the counter.

         Jesus says, “You can have anything your heart desires.”

         Astounded but pleased, she asked for peace, joy, happiness, wisdom, and freedom from fear.  Then she adds, “Not just for me, but for the whole earth.“

         Jesus smiles and says, “I think you misunderstand me.  We don't sell fruits, only seeds.” [1]

         There seems to be a viable connection between what we plant and what we reap from our planting.  And we have several ways of saying it besides, “you reap what you sow.”  Some people will tell you, “What goes around comes around.”  Others will simply call it Karma.  But whatever colloquialism is used to describe the situation, the same law applies.  And they all seem to have a sense of warning.  Now, perhaps it isn’t universal, but what we do to please ourselves often ends up with us sleeping in the bed we’ve chosen to destroy.  And the converse is also typically true.  Persons who are about the business of doing good and kind things, often benefit from their benevolence.  It doesn’t always happen immediately.  But in time we receive the rewards of our labor in one form of acknowledgment or another.

         God forewarns us of the dangers of living to please our human nature and the benefits of living in ways in which we sow spiritual seeds that will ultimately bear the fruits of the Spirit that point to a triumphant life.

[1] Citation: Bruce McNicol and Bill Thrall, The Ascent of a Leader (Jossey-Bass, 1999)

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Holy and Gracious God, empower me to sow the seeds of goodness that will enable me to reap the fruit of a triumphant life, and from the Spirit — eternal life.

         If it is true that those of us who believe are desirous of the things of the Spirit, then the mind of the Spirit will lead us to triumphant and productive lives.  Our life experience, then, should be one in which we are enveloped in love such that loving acts of kindness and goodness become our trademark.  We should become creators of an atmosphere of peace, showing tremendous patience with others (and ourselves), offering kindness to others, as well as the goodness of God (grace), faithfulness (to God and Christ rather than ourselves), a gentle Spirit that seeks to harm no one, and a greater than average degree of self-control.  And yes, some of us are still working things out and may not currently be producing all of the fruit of the Spirit.  But that’s where the life of the Spirit enters in to help us in our times of weakness, functioning as a constant, but gentle reminder of who we really are and whose we really are.  In fact, the true sign of our triumphant lives is that we are keeping in step with the Spirit, becoming more aware and certain of the Spirit’s desire for our lives and less attentive to the things our bodies desire.  That isn’t to say that we become robotic in our lives, neglecting to realize that even a healthy human relationship with others is a gift.  But it is to say that we’re careful not to abuse our kindness, or mistake other’s kindness for weakness and take advantage of it.  The triumphant life of the Spirit recognizes other’s weaknesses and helps them to become stronger in love.  Those virtues are in keeping with the Spirit, are triumphant in its practice of Spiritual living, and are in violation of neither the laws of humanity, nor those of the Holy Spirit.

• What fruits of the Spirit are you most aware of and where do you need nurturing and growth?
• How can you be certain you’re keeping step with the Spirit?
• How does your Spiritual accountability partner to help you remain faithful?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving God, help me to grow in Spiritual wisdom that my life may produce the fruit of the Spirit that leads to triumphant living and ultimately a triumphant life.

         In our efforts to promote the ministry of evangelism, the goal has generally been directed toward getting people to not just give their lives to Jesus — but to come to church.  Getting people to come to church has been the fundamental emphasis and goal of every successful evangelism program.  And the greatest resistance from people who choose not to come to church is that the church is full of hypocrites.  If we examine the number of people who have been cited, charged, and found guilty of sexual misconduct, child pornography, child sexual abuse and other crimes of immorality, the church might well have to humbly confess its sins, apologize, and seek grace and forgiveness for the things that have occurred in the name of the church.  Because the church’s response by some — “I’m not perfect — just forgiven” — has been a woefully inadequate one says much about how we view ourselves as members of the church.  And perhaps that answer works if a person’s mind is not on living a triumphant life.  Perhaps the failure of the Christian’s response lies in the fact that, by our human failures, we have given people the idea that “going to the church” is a way of displaying the integrity of our faith.  When the real, triumphant, life-giving response is displayed when those who believe act as if our bodies are the temple of God — not metaphorically, but realistically.  Our decisions — such as they are — don’t always give others the impression that we believe our bodies are literally the temple of God.  We have made decisions that have led others to see that we have failed to live as if the church was in us, but simply a building that we go to.  Could it be that we might receive a different response toward our evangelical efforts were we to truly believe and live the reality — “ … that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you (us), whom you (we) have received from God”?  If we were to daily acknowledge the reality, “ … that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you (us),” it might have a powerful and profound impact on how the church is perceived by those on the inside looking out as well as those on the outside looking in.  It might also encourage others to join us in this ‘triumphant life’ which Christ has called us to.

• In what ways does your life reflect your belief that you are the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit lives within you?
• What steps can you make today to reveal your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit living within you?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Almighty God, empower me to transform my life that I may live as if I am Your temple and Your Holy Spirit is alive in me. Let me be experienced by others as the place where You reside away from the church building.