Blessed Fruit

BEATITUDES - THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT


What place do the "beatitudes" taught by the Lord Jesus have in the Christian's life? Are they impossible laws to keep, general ideals to aspire for, the outline for some kingdom other than that to which believers belong, or something deeper? Perhaps comparing these nine promises of blessing with the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians will help give a healthy perspective.

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: God gives grace to the humble. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. Unless one humbles himself as a child he will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and unless one is born again he will not see the kingdom of God. Humility or being poor in spirit is not a lofty ideal, but a requisite for all who would enter into life. Similarly, the sum of the law and the prophets is to love God whole heartedly, and to love one's neighbour as oneself. If we are captivated by the Spirit of God, then His character will be evident in us, as it was in Christ, as we consider others' interests above our own. This is love in action. Whoever does not love, does not know God.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN: There is no proof of God's presence when one perseveres only as long as things are going well and good feelings prevail. Those who know God also learn to grieve and hurt deeply, knowing that patience leads to experience, and experience gives hope - knowing that the Comforter is never far away.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PATIENCE - bearing under suffering.

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: Those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ have placed their confidence in God. They do not have to scheme and strive for mastery over their fellow men. They can afford to be yoked together with their Master, who promised that all who came to Him and learned from Him who was meek and lowly of heart would find rest for their souls.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS MEEKNESS.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: To be a follower of God, a child of the Father, a citizen of His kingdom, predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, is not just a matter of believing the right things. It is the righteousness of God lived out in visible action through the disciple. One in whom the Spirit of God dwells will have a hunger to do what He does.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GOODNESS.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: Those who are relying on God's grace and not their own righteousness do not hold themselves as judges to condemn others. Those who recognize God's undeserved forgiveness of them, cannot hold a record of wrongs against another. Any irritation or offence must be displaced by a concern and desire for the welfare of the other.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GENTLENESS.

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART: No one can serve two masters. We cannot claim to have placed our faith in God while our true interest is in grasping for ourselves. A double-minded man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. God will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. Trials come so that faith, like gold refined by fire, may be proved genuine.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FAITHFULNESS.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: We were reconciled to God because He Himself, who is our Peace, destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, creating one new man, making peace. To all those who participate in that new creation is given the responsibility to bring this reconciliation to others. Jesus' prayer for all those who would believe was that we should experience the same kind of unity with God and one another as He Himself did with His Father.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PEACE.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Those who call on the name of the Lord are called to follow in His steps - when they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered He made no threats. Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF CONTROL.

BLESSED ARE YOU, REJOICE AND BE GLAD WHEN PEOPLE PERSECUTE YOU BECAUSE OF ME: The joy of the Spirit is not a natural animal reaction to being well fed and comfortable. It is always mentioned in the presence of hardship, disappointment and opposition. We are called on to endure hardship as discipline, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him endured opposition from sinful men. Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS JOY.

As we see the Lord's description of life in the Kingdom of God, we see that it is no less than the character of God Himself put into action in the lives of those in whom He dwells. -philw