Christians are expected to defend why they believe what they believe. As a result, many Christian gather facts, do research, and try every possible avenue to prove that Christianity is true. I applaud this effort, but my question for Christian is a smudge different. How do Christians prove to others that they are actually Christian? Easy answers include baptism, praying Jesus into your heart, and similar arguments, but these are one time occurrences in a person’s life. How can doing just one or two things in one’s life prove they are a Christian? Christianity is a long process that must produce fruit, so, with that said, over these next three weeks I will be taking a look at The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23 (A)) and how they prove is if a person is Christian. For the first installment, I will look at love, joy, and peace.
LOVE
I could make this section real quick by just saying go to Romans 12:9-21 (B) or 1 Corinthians 13(C). These two scriptures give the most concise definitions of love found in the bible, but I want to take it a step further. This past weekend I have been grumpy and rude because of (insert excuse). Because of (insert excuse) I thought it alright to be short tempered jerk. I was then hit with a spiritual left hook: “if the people you have been mean to today were Jesus, how would you treat them?" This thought humbled me good. As a Christian I should be treating people with the same love that Jesus gives me and should not allow my sinful nature to prevent me from loving others. To sum up what I said, go read 1 John 4:19-21(D).
JOY
First off, we have been saved from sin, been promised a heavenly home, and have been made heirs along with Christ Jesus. This alone should make Christians joyful daily, but I forget about this sometimes. I get so wrapped up in all the wrong I do and how undeserving I am that I forget to celebrate how great a God I have. This celebration is not something reserved for church worship or party, but should be an everyday part of our lives. God has given us so many reasons to be joyful that Christians need to stop frowning and down casting their heads and start enjoying the blessing that God gives us (within reason).
PEACE
Peace is something I find very easy. I put my full trust in the lord and know that he has made me a promise to succeed (Romans 8:28(E)). Peace is something that everyone needs. Life is stressful and many people turn to different things to realize stress (smoke, video games, etc.) These things are worldly though, and they will fail. God however does not fail. He will always be there for us in and out of times of need. Furthermore, it is hard trusting the unseen, but to hold onto the promises he has given us in his word (Psa 23(F)) (Lam 3:22-28(G)) is something we need to do to truly have peace in our lives. A true Christian will be able to see beyond worry and stress and will fix his or her lift to the comfort that is the lord Jesus Christ.
This wraps up “I Got Proof Part 1” come back next week for the second installment.
A:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gal%205:22-23&version=NIV
B:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%2012:9-21&version=NIV
C:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013&version=NIV
D:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%204:19-21&version=NIV
E:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%208:28&version=NIV
F:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psa%2023&version=NIV
G:http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=lam%203:22-28&version=NIV
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