From Frustration to Freedom - Stand Firm Men's Devotional (Walk Thru The Bible Ministries) (2 Devos)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

When Church Becomes a Chore

Some Sundays Jonathan can’t wait to go to church. But there are many weekends that Jonathan goes because he has to. What would the choir director say if he wasn’t up there singing? What would his kids think if Daddy chose football over God? Ironically, Jonathan noticed that the weeks he spent more time in prayer and fellowship with God were the weeks he couldn’t wait to get to the church for worship.

From Love to Legalism

The “faith” mentioned in Paul’s fruits of the spirit is really “faithfulness.” Interestingly, it is one of the last fruits mentioned. This tells us that the doing part of a walk with Christ really should come as a byproduct of a relationship with Him. But how often is this mixed up?

It’s the inner life that must be cultivated first. When this happens, faithfulness to God and His Word comes naturally, springing from a heart that loves God. Working for God without walking with God always produces spiritual burnout. Only the Holy Spirit working inside of a believer can produce a truly successful Christian.

What You Can Do

If you’re in a dry season, where your spiritual life just seems like another ritual, take time to feed your soul. Spend time in prayer and meditation. Play music that raises your heart to God. Read passages from the Psalms. Do whatever it takes to get back into that sweet communion.

Bottom Line: Faithfulness without love is legalism.

Sidebar: “Each believer stands on one side or the other of dedication. Either we have made this lifelong commitment or we have not. Either we have faced the issue of who is to be the master of our lives or we have been picking up one sin at a time.” Dr. Charles Ryrie

Further Reading: Luke 16:10-12
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Devo #2: Bringing the Hammer Down

Firing employees is probably the worst of part of Jered’s job as Human Resources Director for a large consulting firm. But Jered knows it’s a job to be done. So he approaches it with a character trait men often have a hard time unpacking: meekness.

Jesus Doesn’t Make Wimps

The result of Christ working in the life of a believer isn’t spineless Christianity. That would contradict the thousands of verses that exhort men to be strong and courageous and bold. So how do you do all that and still be meek?

Meekness is really just plowing through the hard things with care. When Jered looks an employee in the eyeball and tells them they will no longer have a job—he approaches it with the goal of building up that person. Over the years, God’s work in Jered’s life has produced a love for people, beyond their place as an employee or a statistic. His desire in any confrontation is to communicate the hard truth, but let that person down slowly and leave them with some shred of hope for their future.

What You Can Do

A spirit of meekness brings the strength to tackle big problems instead of avoiding them. And it all begins by cultivating the other fruits of the spirit—including love, joy, peace, and longsuffering. God’s work inside of you will give you compassion for the soul of every human you interact with and the grace and wisdom to handle each confrontation with care.

Bottom Line: Meekness is the ability to handle the tough stuff with grace.

Sidebar: “THE MEEKNESS THAT MINISTERS, THAT SERVES, THAT IS EVER READY TO MARK ITSELF THE LEAST, IN PURSUIT OF THE HIGHEST WELFARE OF MEN, IS THAT FORCE WHICH MOST UNFAILINGLY WINS EVENTUALLY THE CHIEFEST PLACE, THE GREATEST HONOUR AND INFLUENCE, AND MOST ROYAL AND ENDURING EMPIRE” - The Pulpit Commentary: St. Matthew Vol. I.

Further Reading: 2 Peter 1:5-7