365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 245

We are well aware of how there are many sides to an issue especially when it comes to politics but I was reminded of how we are also divided when it comes to God. There always seems to be someone with another perspective that does not mesh with your own. I am sure that how we are made as unique individuals is the reason for this but I am also sure that God is the one and only way that we can be unified in spirit. Unfortunately, this takes every person on Earth opening their hearts to Christ. We won’t see this unity of spirit this side of Heaven but we have the hope of being a part of this unity in Heaven. Perhaps, with lots of prayer and working on our own spirit we can see a glimpse of this kind of unity within our own circle of family and friends.

Acts 23:6  Then Paul, knowing that some of t hem were Sadducees and the others Pharises, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 217

There are lots of different kinds of fruits to eat in our world but there is one fruit of the spirit. In doing some digging on this topic of fruit, I found that there is some contention on the definition of the fruit. Was it meant to say there is only one fruit that have 9 different aspects or is it 9 different fruits? I believe there is one fruit which is the Holy Spirit within us. The nine attributes within this Spirit are within us but as all fruit needs cultivating with sunshine, good soil and water. And much like it is in our world, there will be places where the fruit ripens beautifully and there will be other places where the fruit is lacking quality because it didn’t get enough water or insects got into them. We, too, have to cultivate these attributes of the Spirit within us. All these attributes of the Spirit are within us but we have to allow them to grow until they ripen and can be harvested. They are individual attributes but all have one common goal to be like Jesus Christ. I think these 9 listed attributes are only a starting point as there are many other attributes that Jesus has that we should strive for like compassion, consideration, humility. It is all about becoming more like Christ. The more we know and understand who Jesus is the more we will understand what we need to cultivate within ourselves to become more like Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-5 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.