Do you ever feel like you’re not enough?
But not just not–smart, attractive, successful, acknowledged, financially sound, admired, fill in the blank–enough. We can all feel that way at times, and I’ll let you in on a little secret:
God made you good enough from the very moment He made you (Gen 1:27-31). All those 'I’m not enough' thoughts are big fat lies from the Enemy because the Maker defines you and HE says you are good.
So no, I’m not talking about the identity-based 'enoughs'. I’m talking about the fruits of the Spirit, on fire for God, enough.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, the fruits of the Spirit are the character traits that God grows you in, as you are transformed by His Spirit. They are (and if you’ve ever been to VBS, que the music)...
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
Side note: I can’t read that list without accompanying the words with an upbeat kiddy tune. Thanks, VBS. But in all seriousness, these fruits are a big deal.
I think it’s safe to say that most people want to grow in these areas, Christ Followers or not, but it’s especially potent when you are pursuing Christ.
Friends, good fruit only grows when the plant is healthy on the inside. Fruit is an outward expression of an inward transformation:
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:7-9, emphasis mine).
Simply put, who we are on the inside will eventually be exposed on the outside–with rotten fruit and eternal destruction, or good fruit and eternal life.
I don’t know about you, but I want to sow God’s goodness, not just for my benefit (I may have first became a Follower to avoid Hell, however, it becomes so much more than that. I’m safe with my Savior and I want others to be too), but for His Kingdom.
The fruits are for HIM not for me. I don’t earn my salvation by growing in these fruits, because salvation is free from Jesus.
I, and many like me, yearn to grow in these fruits of the Spirit because I want to continuously become more like Christ, so I can bless others and share His good news.
Oftentimes, I wonder if I’m doing enough to represent this; am I passionately pursuing God and His Kingdom purpose?
After all, I’m just sitting at home most of the work week, writing to help clients make money. Where’s the Kingdom work in that? Sure, I may be kind and smile at the people I see at the gym, but that’s not much.
Maybe you feel the same. All I can say is, 1) ask God for discernment and transformative, Spirit-fruit growth in you, and 2) never downplay how God can move. You plant the seeds, and watch what He can do.
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