Rise Up!

I have been thinking a lot lately about how I’m supposed to spread the Good News. It’s no small question and it’s something as a Christian I am instructed to do by none other than our Founder, Jesus Christ. And it’s truly about following His example of humility and compassion. My blog is one attempt to do that. So is my book.

The Fruit

But we don’t all have to be a published writer to spread the Gospel. The way we live our lives as Christians can be the most effective evangelization tool. If we are joyful and peaceful, that’s a good start. These are not emotions that we should try to have. Joy and peace are some of the fruit of the Holy Spirit! We read in Chapter 5 of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, which I highly recommend reading, that there are nine total attributes related to this holy fruit. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Now that’s something to contemplate. And of course Paul begins with love because when he talks about the 3 virtues (in another letter – to the Corinthians) which are love, hope, and faith, he tells us that the “greatest of these” is love. One day we won’t need hope and faith because we will see our God and just know things for certain. But because God is love and He loves us so much, that will always remain! These other attributes are all products of love, which is a product of the Holy Spirit (fruit, remember?), one of the three Persons of God in the Trinity.

They’ll Know We Are Christians

Basically, if you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, all these attributes will quite naturally, or better supernaturally, spill out of you. And when that happens, you can be quite attractive to those who don’t know God and don’t know that peace, joy, and all the rest. As we take care of one another because of God’s love, people who are unaware can see what Christianity really looks like. I want to be a true disciple of Christ who, in the early Christian church, went around everywhere telling non-believers, or those who did not know, about the love of Jesus for each of us, and what He did out of that love. He forgave, He died, He rose again, defeating death, and He gave us the Holy Spirit before ascending to His Heavenly Father. And He’s coming back one glorious day!

Yes, Another Song I Love

As the song below describes, when you believe in Jesus, you can be released. From what? Sin, death, worry, insecurity, anger, fear. You get the idea; pretty much anything that is the opposite of the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. I want to help others rise up and know that they are loved and what waits them here and in eternity, if they will just surrender to receive the Spirit of the Lord. It does take a bit of courage – it’s about stepping out in faith. It’s about asking forgiveness for ways you’ve hurt others and yourself, and being forgiven! You don’t have to be scared. It’s going to be amazing.