Remembering to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is Godliness. Not godliness as in any god but Godliness as in YAHWEH-likeness, for YAHWEH is the one true God. YESHUA the Christ is the express image of the heart and mind of YAHWEH. Christ was His words and thoughts made flesh. As we yield to the spirit of Christ through treasuring and obeying His word from the heart, we are transformed into His likeness. Our growth and maturity is seen in how much we reflect the fullness of love, for GOD is Love and we were created to bear His image.
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 amplified)
This type of love comes from reconciliation with GOD. Reconciliation is the process of surrendering your center (your heart, soul, and mind) to be permeated by the Spirit of GOD. As GOD inhabits your center you become centered in Him. This dynamic of unity, made available through Christ, makes us vessels of light, love, and life. The change is from the inside out. Many people focus on trying to replicate the outward appearance of this change through religious duty, and it looks convincing however it lacks the anointing of the Spirit. The anointing is what penetrates the soul in a way that people know they have had a visitation by the Spirit of GOD. The impoverished world needs the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit comes from the planting of GOD (Isaiah 61:1-3).
So, we must first be rooted in GOD before we can produce the fruit of the Spirit. Remember that the seed is in the fruit. If you want to sow seed into the life of others, you need to cultivate some fruit first. The fruit of the Spirit is Godliness through manifested love.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Amen to that! Love is at the very core of all Jesus stands for, as it should be for us believers.
Amen! we need God through the Son this is possible.