Finding My Way Home: A Journey to Discover Hope and a Life of PurposeSample

Keys to a Fruitful Life

Think about how Jesus looked to those around Him. He dressed humbly, walked slowly through crowds, often took detours or showed up late, hung out with the “wrong” people, and forgave quickly. Jesus didn’t think about getting ahead or gaining popularity. Instead, He encountered people one by one and often tried to get away from the crowds. His love for people was attractive and drew people to Him.

Is this how people describe us?

After years of following Christ, I still had an anger problem. I’d finished Bible college, learned to pray and listen to God, married, and even worked with the youth in our church. I shared the Gospel with my family for years and still had this glaring part of me that didn’t look like Jesus.

I realized people would never see me as a man of God if I kept bursting out in rage. If I was ever going to impact my family for Christ, I had to change. Words won’t ever fully reveal how much God has changed me; I have to act it out. The difference in my heart must be evident through my actions.

I prayed for a long time for God to search my heart. Change comes slowly. Even now, I know certain things will trigger my temper. I can feel it rising inside me, and I’ve mostly learned to take myself out of those situations immediately. Mostly.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” (Romans 7:19 NLT)

But there is hope for Paul, for me, and you: “Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 7:24b-25 NLT)

Maybe anger isn’t your issue. Is it greed? Lust? Pride? Whatever it is, God wants to help you change. So first, he shows us our weak areas, and then He gives us the strength to overcome.

What would you like for God to help you with today? Are you bearing the right kind of fruit in your life?