Fear Not 365 – For God Is More Faithful Than Even a Good Mother

ChristianHolinessDaily — Sun, 14 May 2017 16:37:50 +0000

The Book of Isaiah is an amazing source of inspiration. I find it nearly as comforting as the Psalms. Here is an intriguing verse that I remember caught me off guard when I read it for the first time.

Isaiah is comparing God’s grace, lovingkindness, goodness, and protection to a mother. He poses this question:

Can a woman forget her nursing child? And not have compassion on the son of her womb? (NKJV)

Here is the way the NIV reads: Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?

My immediate answer to that question is NO. It would seem impossible. I mean, MOM remains faithful when all others have turned their backs on us. How many times have you seen the mother of a mass murderer or a serial killer on TV, speaking or standing in defense of her grown child? Dads may walk out… friends may fall aside… brothers may turn their back… but moms remain faithful forever. Right?

Yet, Isaiah’s words were not his own; they were inspired by God. We live in a fallen world, a world where – like it or not – a mother sometimes abandons her child. We live in a world that is not only fallen, but one in which it is nearly impossible to survive. Some mothers believe they have no choice but to forget their children. What is Isaiah’s inspired answer to his question?

Though she may forget, I [God] will not forget you!

We serve a great God. We serve a God whose goodness is impossible to comprehend. We serve a God who will never leave us nor forsake us.

Fear Not, for God is more faithful than even a good mother.

Source

Fruits of the Spirit

ChristianHolinessDaily — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 03:00:08 +0000

I often forget that many of my readers are new Christians I use expressions with which some may not be familiar. Though the Bible has been around for the better part of two millennium, many folk have never picked it up and skimmed it. Few have read it through. Fewer still study it regularly. So, I will endeavor to use less “church talk.”
The “fruit of the spirit” is a simple list of nine qualities that a mature Christian should exhibit. By mature, I mean one who has developed a regular prayer life, regularly studies her Bible, and seeks to grow so deep in a personal relationship with God that His will become her heart’s desire.

Those nine things (“fruits”) are:

Love

Joy

Peace

Longsuffering (patience)

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

The Catholic church adds:

Generosity

Modesty

Chastity

We are never to judge others; that’s not why the Apostle Paul penned this list. He wrote it so that we may examine our own heart. If you are a growing Christian, you will begin seeing these attributes in your own life.

Nor are we to be “fruit inspectors.” Some who call themselves Christians justify judging and gossiping about others by quoting this verse from Matthew 7:17-20.

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Put in context with the verses preceding it, and one sees Christ referring to false prophets. If we judge the quality of anyone’s life we should begin and end with our own.

Does my life exhibit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, generosity, modesty, and chastity?

I admit it; I’m lacking in many areas. But I’m surrendered to Christ’s will, and pray He has patience with me and helps me grow and bear good fruit. God fruit.

Source

Christian Holiness Journal

Fear Not 365 – For God Is More Faithful Than Even a Good Mother

Fruits of the Spirit