I want to be good but…

Galatians 5:  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

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Saturday Night Live was very edgy at one time. It was the first place where “dirty” words were used on television. While shocking, it seemed to have an opposite effect, at least on me. Since I craved to fit in, I thought I would give these words a whirl.

After a while I could lace together a tapestry of filth so vile it would make your pigs throw up. I was “in” and people wanted more, BUT GOD wanted less.

• Even the smallest of sins is still sin in GOD’s eyes.
• Small sins give me permission to do more and more sins and a sinful lifestyle.
• Wild lifestyles don’t produce the “fruit” of GOD, no matter what my beliefs are.

When I woke up from fulfilling my voracious appetite for peer acceptance, I looked around and had no GODLY fruit in my life. Time had passed and I had nothing I could point to with GOD’s mark on it. On the contrary, I had plenty of sin and an empty heart.

• GOD’s love in me is shown through actions towards people who don’t deserve it.
• GOD’s joy in me is shown when things go wrong and I’m praising GOD.
• GOD’s peace in me is shown when I should be nervous but a strange calmness overcomes my emotions.
• GOD’s patience in me is shown by hanging on when I should “cut” someone loose.
• GOD’s kindness in me is shown through serving.
• GOD’s goodness in me is shown through following what HE tells me to do.
• GOD’s faithfulness in me is shown by believing things will be fine no matter the circumstance.
• GOD’s gentleness in me is shown when I give mercy to the “guilty” party.
• GOD’s self control in me is shown when I say “NO” to sin that time.

My life is actually not “my life.” GOD made me for HIMSELF and HE desires I follow HIS ways. Since HE gave me freewill, I have a choice to follow HIM or fulfill my sin. When I follow HIM, I produce “fruit.”

• Are you producing GODLY fruit in your life?
• Do other people see your actions and know you are doing them for CHRIST?
• Can you do your actions in front of everyone without having shame?
• Honestly, would GOD be pleased with your actions?