It's that simple...

I used to have index cards with specific Bible verses on them hanging on our walls and refrigerator.  I thought it was good to have little reminders for us here and there.  Not just for me and Ben but also for our kids.   Scriptures like...

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." - Proverbs 15:18

and

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Philippians 4:6

We recently moved and during the move I threw out the index cards thinking that I would just make new ones with updated verses once we got settled at our new place.

I started thinking about it the other day and which verses would be good for my little family to have around. The scriptures that I had hanging before were all fine and wonderful, but I started to think about my kids and how they are reading now (except Aslyn, but she will be soon enough). 

Will they really understand those scriptures?  Then I realized that I needed to think of something else.  Something more simple for them to grasp.  So, I started doing some research and reading in my Bible.  What I found took me back to when I was a kid.  Remember way back in Children's Church being taught the fruits of the Spirit?  And then probably hearing about it through the years all the way through youth group?  Well, I do.  Who knew there was actually a very good reason for my teachers to teach so much about one subject...

It made sense to me to hang something with the fruits of the Spirit on it for my kids.  But when I was reading scripture and trying to find ideas online, I found that not only is this great for the kids but it's something that I need to remember more in my personal walk.  And I think maybe a lot of Christians need to go back to their childhood basics and really try to apply these simple guidelines to their every day lives.  I say 'basics', but now I realize that it is so much more and deeper than just that.  I was really amazed at how powerful the phrase, 'the fruits of the Spirit' really is.

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." - Galatians 5:16-17

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance/patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." - Galatians 5:22-26

This is pretty simple to me...if we apply the fruits of the Spirit to our personalities, to our every day walk, then we will begin to be the people of God that we are called to be.  If we truly are living like we SHOULD be living, for Christ, with the Spirit, then we will have no desire to sin or be a part of sinful things.
I originally was thinking about hanging something like The 10 Commandments on my wall for the kids.  Which, don't get me wrong, they absolutely need to know them too.  But I really like the idea of teaching them good things to work towards, instead of the bad things to stay away from.
I think that if we teach them to strive to have these Godly characteristics then the rest will just be there.  As long as my kids are striving to bear these good fruits, then they will not bear bad fruit.  It's that simple.

"By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?   Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:16-20

I know a lot of people exhibit the 9 different qualities that make the fruits of the Spirit.  There are plenty of decent people out there that don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, that show love and patience, have joy, peace, are kind and faithful, gentle, and show self-control.  But the difference is Jesus.  His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is perfect and like none other.  That is what we are supposed to bear as our fruit.  We are supposed to strive for the supernatural fruits that is Christ's own.  That is what sets us a part and that is what should be recognizable.  

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."  - John 15:1-8

 

I love this...this is so powerful to me. 

This explains exactly how we can achieve those supernatural fruits.  'No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.'  Of course it is not an easy task to have Godly love or patience, but if we ask Him for help and remain diligent, then we will see a change.  And once we begin to bear fruit, then we will bear even more fruit!

At the end of Galatians 5:22-26 Paul says, "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."  There's a reason for that.  Let's be honest, we as Christians tend to look at each other and yes, judge each other.  Maybe not always, but we have all done it.

I came across this quote when I was researching online...

"Once we truly have the Love of God in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we will understand. Until then, we are simply beating ourselves and others with the branches, rather than producing fruit."

I love that.

Lord knows that I'm not perfect, nobody is.  This is a never ending process.  But it's something that I think is forgotten all too easily.  If we follow this simple guideline and strive to bear these Christ-like fruits, then I think we will find that everything else will fall into place a lot more easily.  And instead of watching others, judging, and talking behind each other's backs, we need to uplift and encourage each other.  Pray for one another.  If we continue to talk about and judge others, then we will never 'bear good fruit'.

Something that started out with trying to find a way to teach my kids turned into me renewing very important life's lesson in myself...how amazing!  Now I know what to hang on my wall for MY WHOLE FAMILY.  It's that simple!