Good morning,
The night before Jesus went willingly to the cross to pay the price for all of our sins, he gave his disciples the information that they would need to be able to keep on loving and trusting their Savior and Lord in the challenging days ahead of them. Jesus knew all that they would face as they watched hate filled people attack him and then nail him to a cruel cross. He wanted them to know that they would not be left to face the challenges of their lives alone. He told them, But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative–that is, the Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.(John 14:26) Although they didn’t understand what that meant, he gave them a clear example of what this would look like. He told them that they would receive a gift so different than anything they had experienced before so that they would know that their God was still with them. Here is what he said, "I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. Their gift would be a Holy Spirit given peace of mind and heart that was totally different than any of their enemies could ever experience. Then he added, So don't be troubled or afraid.(v.27) Only those with a genuine relationship with God would ever be given these gifts at their faith based request.
Years later the Apostle Paul explained this promise when he wrote, So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.(Rom.8:6) He went on to point out that people who depended on themselves for control and peace would always end up angry with God for allowing them to go through the overwhelming challenges of a hate filled world. Even though they didn’t obey God’s laws, they expect God to treat them kindly. Their only response to God’s circumstances would be controlled by Satan, the sworn enemy of God. However, those who really are people who are controlled by the Holy Spirit living in them, can expect a whole set of gifts that come with our salvation. When writing to the Galatians, Paul explained, But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.(Gal.5:22) What God’s spirit will do in God’s genuine children is not only to give us peace of mind and heart, it also includes being able to love those around us, have a sense of joy even in the face of the unexpected, patient in the face of God’s timing, kindness toward those around us who don’t understand, goodness instead of grumpiness, faithfulness instead of fearful coverups. gentleness instead of pushing and shoving and self-control instead of sinful self-centeredness. He ends by saying, There is no law against these things! Paul ended his directions to the Romans by saying (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)(Rom.8:9) God will use those of us who are genuine children of God to bring glory to his name and be living examples of the power of God. Those who claim to be his children but are only fooling themselves will find themselves living out their lives controlled by fear and hate. Dear Lord, Please use us for your glory.
Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Roy Wisner
