Sex and Ice Buckets

Ever since launching this website, Pat has been tracking how many hits, how many countries, how many minutes spent and other analytics pertaining to this site. For a number of reasons, I rarely want to see his report. However, I have been intrigued how some posts get a lot of hits and how many others don’t. Pat thinks it has the most to do with how I title my articles. He has suggested that in order to grab the attention of the reader, I need to include words in my title like “sex” and “Ice Buckets”. I know he will certainly be tracking this post to see if he was right.

The problem with implementing the sex and ice buckets experiment is this: A distracting and sensational title does a great job of getting attention, but after that, you deserve substance. My intention in sharing my heart and life with you is to encourage you and possibly help buffer you as you move forward.

I enjoy making people laugh, and I love to tell a good story, but I really love learning and having the platform to share with you the lessons that God is using to mold my heart and shape my life. I was convicted this week that I invest a lot of energy on the outer package and the surface impression. I am often guilty of trying to grab a flash of attention and not backing it up with substance. I do spend a lot of time praying and studying God’s word, but I am often too busy, too shallow, too consumed with my own agenda or too distracted to live out the gospel. I can put on a pretty face, rejoice in learning, and memorize scripture, but then not even see the hurting people who are right in my own path. I’m faithful about listening to the Spirit during my quiet time, but I often fail to listen when I walk out my front door.

As Christians, we are recognized by our fruit and not by our appearance or knowledge of the Bible.

“ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” Mathew 7:20 (NLT)

 

 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 

In Matthew 21, Jesus was traveling with his disciples to Jerusalem when He spotted a fig tree. The tree had healthy vibrant leaves. It looked great from a distance and Jesus was hungry. When Jesus approached the tree, he saw that there were no figs on it. He cursed it and commanded it to never bear fruit again, and it immediately withered up.

Jesus used the cursing of the fig tree to teach the disciples and all of us an important lesson: We are worthless as followers of Christ if we do not bear fruit. We may look healthy and attractive on the outside; we may be great at getting people’s attention, but if we don’t bear fruit, our faith is hollow. We may look good from a distance, but upon closer examination, do we bear fruit?

If the Holy Spirit resides in my heart, then I will love. I will love my neighbor and the poor and my enemies. Everyone loves their own children, but the love of the spirit is about loving people who are hard to love. A fruitful Christian will be able to rejoice in the Lord always and have a peace that passes understanding. She will be patient to listen and not try to rush through a tough lesson or trail. She will be kind and good and gentle. She will be faithful to pray and obey…even when the busy circumstances of life are overwhelming.

You and I cannot stick to this script without the Holy Spirit. We cannot be a Good Christian. We can put on a pretty Christian face and make a good impression from a distance, but we cannot be like Jesus unless He is living in us.

Oh Jesus, I need you every minute of every day. You are the vine and I will only bear fruit when I am attached to you. Please unclog my ears so that I will actively listen to your spirit and open my eyes to see how you can use me for your kingdom glory.