Outbursts of Rage Point to a Spiritual Problem 

Every time we turn around it seems like we’re hearing about another incident of road rage, air rage, or a person reacting with an outburst of anger in some other setting. Our society is searching for an explanation for the increasing number of these disturbing and often violent occurrences. Some point to guns as being the problem. Others suggest that it’s the result of all the stress people are feeling in relation to the pandemic. May I offer another possibility? Could it be that this is part of what a world looks like when we remove God from our lives? This is how fallen human beings tend to react when they’re not under the restraints of the Holy Spirit. When people aren’t yielding to the Lord and cultivating His holy characteristics in their lives, they will fall more and more under the sway of Satan and their ungodly, baser instincts. Maybe the guns are the chosen instruments some people use. Maybe the pressures and fears from the pandemic intensify people’s poor reactions. However, the root of the problem is our turning away from the loving and holy God who can purify our hearts and help us to treat others in the right way.

Sometimes I don’t think we realize what a positive influence the church and followers of Jesus have had on our society. When they are functioning properly, they are truly a light in the darkness and the salt of the earth that purifies and preserves its surroundings. So as less people fit that description and as those who do are marginalized by our culture, is it any wonder that we are reaping the results of their waning influence?

 The Bible lists some of the Christlike qualities that spring forth from our lives as a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power at work (see Galatians 5:22-23). I believe we’re witnessing a rise in the opposite of those characteristics referred to as the fruit of the Spirit. Instead of love, there is more selfishness and hatred. Rather than joy, we’re seeing more anger and fear. Rather than peace, there is conflict and chaos. Instead of people being longsuffering, we’re finding more individuals having short fuses and lacking patience with the shortcomings of those around them. Kindness is growing more rare, while a lack of courtesy and respect becomes more common. Goodness is disappearing from our society, being replaced by various shades of evil, crudeness, and selfish motivations. Faithfulness is waning, while instability and unpredictability in people abound. Gentleness has given way to a spirit of harshness. And self-control seems to be exhibited less and less, not only in a society that indulges in all its pleasures, but one in which people fail to restrain themselves from lashing out at others. Many of the incidents we noted earlier are the result of people failing to exercise proper self-control when facing some irritation, conflict, or challenge. 

   In a contrasting list of attitudes and actions mentioned just prior to the fruit of the Spirit is what the Bible refers to as “the works of the flesh” (see Galatians 5:19-21). Included under that heading are such things as hatred, outbursts of wrath, and murders, the very qualities and behaviors we’re seeing on the rise today.

Our choices have consequences. If we continue down the road of rebellion against God and His Word, we will keep seeing godliness decrease and the unrestrained passions of sinful humanity manifest themselves more and more. Laws and vaccines won’t resolve the issue. People need a change of heart and our society needs the influence of those who follow Christ. We need to turn back to God and submit to Him. 

 

God Intends for Us to Be Fruitful  

Recently my son became a father for the first time. It’s wonderful to get to see him experience the joys of fatherhood now. This newest grandchild actually made his arrival in the world on my and my wife’s fortieth wedding anniversary. He was the best present we could have received for the occasion. As we celebrated with the rest of our children, grandkids, and family, it was a reminder of how the Lord has blessed us and how our union as husband and wife those many years ago has born much fruit.

Hopefully we can all say the same thing about our relationship with Christ. Jesus made it clear that fruitfulness is one of His purposes for our lives as His followers. “You did not choose Me, but I choose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). He also declared that through bearing fruit, we bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).  It sounds as if the more fruit we bear, the better.

 One way such fruitfulness should manifest itself is through Christlike characteristics becoming more evident in our lives. We should experience spiritual growth and transformation in our hearts, minds, and conduct. The Bible even refers to those desirable qualities as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:23). Are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control increasingly springing up in our lives?

Bearing fruit can also refer to the spiritual sons and daughters in whose lives we’ve played a role in their coming to know the Lord and in their continuing walk with Him. Maybe we’ve had a direct impact on some, even praying with them as they received God’s gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus. There may be others on whom we have had more of an indirect influence as we’ve prayed for them, encouraged them in their walk with God, shared truth, or simply lived before them as a Christlike example. Some of those people we may be able to point to and call by name. However, there may be others we’ve influenced of whom we’re not even aware. Just as my wife and I can look at our family and give thanks for God’s blessings, let’s all look with grateful hearts at how God has allowed us to bear fruit spiritually.

But let’s also endeavor to continue to bear fruit for the Lord. No matter our age or circumstances, the Lord can still work in us and through us to bear more fruit. The Bible even refers to those who will “still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14). It may be difficult to change as we get older and set in our ways, but the Lord can keep forming us more into the image of Jesus if we’ll cooperate with Him. Because of age or changing circumstances, we may not have as much interaction with others as we once did, but we can still pray, be an example, and find other ways to have a positive impact on others for the Lord.

If we’re staying close to Jesus and faithfully following Him, we will bear fruit. We don’t have to work to produce fruitfulness - it will naturally tend to happen if we’re spiritually healthy and staying connected to our source of spiritual life. We just have to keep the weeds and other obstacles out of the way that would hinder us from being fruitful.  

So let’s thank God for past fruitfulness while seeking to bear even more fruit for Him in the days ahead.

 

We Need Contrite Humility Rather than Pride  

It seems that an increasing number of organizations and businesses are jumping on the bandwagon of celebrating June as “Pride Month”. Since when has pride become such a virtue? Granted, we all should have proper respect for ourselves as human beings created in the image of God. However, we also have to keep in mind that His image in us has been marred due to sin. We aren’t born perfect, but with a sinful nature and various related flaws. We can value who we are while at the same time recognizing our shortcomings. Too often self-respect grows into self-exaltation or thinking too highly of ourselves, becoming the quality the Bible condemns as pride. And the more we think of ourselves, the less we tend to think of our Creator. We exalt ourselves above Him, even to the point of defying Him and the truth of His Word.

As our culture emphasizes pride, it is in a sense affirming its abandonment of God’s Word. The Bible doesn’t treat pride as a characteristic to celebrate. It is roundly condemned and connected to the ungodly in society. God declares that He hates pride (Proverbs 6:17; 8:13). He calls it sin (Proverbs 21:4), specifically listing it as one of the various sins of the wicked city of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49).  Jesus plainly referred to pride as an “evil thing” (Mark 7:21-23). It’s listed in Romans 1:30 as one of the characteristics of those who have forsaken God. And Paul denotes it as one of the qualities of an ungodly society in the last days (II Timothy 3:2).

Just as disturbing is what the Bible describes as the effects and results of pride. It deceives people (Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:3). Pride keeps people from seeking God (Psalm 10:4) and it causes God to resist them (James 4:6). It leads to shame, conflict, and ultimately destruction (Proverbs 11:2; 13:10; 16:18). Aren’t we doing a disservice to people to promote something which is harmful to them? Wouldn’t true Christian love urge people to forsake the way of pride and defiance of God, encouraging them to humbly submit to what God says about our natures, practices, and lifestyles? Instead of soothing the misguided and cheering on the proud as they travel the road toward personal destruction, shouldn’t we be warning them of the error of their ways and be lovingly assisting them to find the better path?

 In contrast to pride, the Bible emphasizes our need to have a humble and contrite heart. It’s not about us, what we want, or what we self-deceptively think will make us happy. It’s about God, what He wants, and what He knows is best for us. It’s about exalting Him, which in turn will help us find true joy and fulfillment in life. Our main goal is not to be happy, but to honor our God. In order to do that we will often have to do as Jesus declared – deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Walking that path will require a humbling of ourselves, a turning away from anything in our lives contrary to God’s will, and submitting to what God says about how we are to live.

It's ironic that the main ideas people are being encouraged to take pride in regarding sexuality and gender identity are some of the same ones of which we need to humbly repent due to their being contrary to God’s Word, nature, and reality. So while others may choose to celebrate pride this month, let’s focus more on humbling ourselves, submitting to God, and praying for others to do the same.  

 

Being Loyal until Our Master Returns  

My wife and I recently watched a particular movie for the first time even though it’s been out for over a decade. Although the most prominent actor in the film is Richard Gere, the real star of the story is a dog named Hachi. I understand that the whole account is based on a real event. This dog would faithfully meet his owner at the train station every day at 5:00 p.m. when he returned from work. However, one day the man left for his job never to return, having collapsed at his workplace and ending up dying. Nevertheless, Hachi continued to watch and wait for his master at the train station. Amazingly, the dog maintained his vigilance at that location for ten years until finally passing away too. He became an inspiring symbol of loyalty and devotion.

 Are we as loyal and devoted to our absent Master? In a real sense, Jesus is still with us through His Spirit who lives within those who put their trust in Him as Savior. However, He’s no longer physically present on this earth in the same way as when He was in the flesh some 2000 years ago. He died, too. Yet He was also resurrected. But then He left His disciples, ascending into heaven with the promise of returning one day. Have we forgotten? Are we going about our lives without any thought about our Master coming back one day? Have we given up on Him and gone back to our old way of life? Or are we still watching and waiting? Are we still being loyal to Him in spite of His prolonged absence?

The departure of Hachi’s owner was unexpected, while Jesus’ leaving was not, at least not for Him. He warned His followers that it was coming. He even instructed them in what they needed to do while He was gone. How do we exhibit our loyalty and love for Him until His return? Unlike the dog in the movie, it isn’t primarily by sitting in some sacred spot in anticipation of His Second Coming. We aren’t to be simply sitting in our churches or taking a pilgrimage to some sacred site in order to hold a vigil until our Master shows up again. No, we show our devotion to Him by staying busy being involved in what He instructed us to be doing until He comes back.

Some of the parables He told related to His coming reveal how we should be exhibiting our loyalty to Him in the meantime. The parable about the virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) reminds us to guard against falling into the sleep of spiritual complacency. We need to maintain the condition of our souls, keeping our hearts filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows us that we aren’t supposed to be just idly hiding out until Jesus returns. We should be using the resources and abilities He’s entrusted to us to honor Him and accomplish His purposes until He returns. The story about the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) reminds us to be busy showing compassion to others and taking care of their needs until we stand before the Lord to give an account of ourselves one day. And the parable of the faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51) tells us to be diligent in fulfilling whatever responsibilities our Master has given us. Based on other final instructions to His followers, those duties would include proclaiming the gospel and helping lead others into His kingdom to become His disciples.

So let’s be examples of loyalty and devotion to our Master by faithfully continuing to do His will and His work until He returns.