“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasure of an evil heart.” (Matthew 12:33-35 NLT)
What are your identifying characteristics? If someone is trying to describe you, what kinds of characteristics will they likely identify first? “She’s so sweet, kind, loving, caring…” “He’s a bully, full of himself, thoughtless, clueless…”
As a Jesus follower we’re bearing the fruit of the Spirit or we’re living a lie. How we speak, live, work, play, carry ourselves, in short, the characteristics of the person we really are will show, we can’t prevent it. We can pretend, seek to cover our flaws, pretend to be someone we’re not, but we will be found out.
Perhaps the greatest measure of who we are is illustrated through the exhibition of our faith. Are we a person of faith? How do we convey that to others? How would anyone who doesn’t know us recognize our life of faith? Why is that important? Because the fruit of our life will grow or die based on our measure of faith.
Greg Laurie helps us when he writes: “Be known for your faith, not your lack of faith.” How does someone recognize whether we have faith or not? Our attitude in trials, hardships, or pain reveals who we are at our core. If Jesus is our Lord and King, He will rule in every season of our lives, not just the good days. How so?
What’s foremost on our mind when we’re suffering? Or perhaps a better way to express that would be to ask: Who’s foremost on our mind when we’re suffering? If it’s not Jesus, where’s our faith? Nothing of significance is going to change in our health or our life except it passes through the filter of God’s permission.
We place a lot of stock in our doctors, as well we should, but doctors are limited. God is unlimited. Yes, of course, I trust my doctor’s wisdom and value their insights, but ultimately, I rely on the leadership of the Spirit of God to guide me in my choices regarding my health. I mentioned a few days ago that I was being considered for participation in a study to test a new drug that has proven helpful in reversing the effects of Alzheimer’s. It was exciting to think about that and I admit I was disappointed when I wasn’t accepted, but my trust is in Jesus, not in drugs, so, I’m confident if I’d needed to be in that trial I would have been. The Lord knows best, and my faith dictates my response even in disappointment. He has plans that will be better and more suited specifically for me, so, I will commit my confidence to Him.
What about you? What’s going on in your life that is enabling the brilliance of your faith to shine? In what area of your life is the Lord being exalted in this season? We are being identified as a child of God through and because of our trials, not in spite of them. They are purposeful, intended, God ordained for the very purpose of growing our faith. To miss that is to miss the point of faith. Faith is built in hardship.
So, I will ask again: How are you known?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 