True Sweetness: 9 Days to Growing in the Fruit of the SpiritSample

Yes and No

"God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control." II TIMOTHY 1:7 NCV

As the girl watched the video on the church’s big screen, tears began to fall. She watched as missionaries in a distant land described the abject poverty around them that robbed the people they served of the very basic necessities they needed, like food and water. Comfortable in her seat, the girl focused on the images of young children playing outside in the street with something that looked like a wadded-up ball of tape. “Children turn the trash others throw out of car windows into toys that they can play with, like this makeshift ball,” the missionary explained.

From her seat, she thought of all that she had to play with and how hard life must be for some other people. She tugged on her mom’s sleeve. “I’m not going to buy that bike with my birthday money,” she whispered, trying not to distract others in the church service. “I’m going to give it to the missionary to help the children.”

“But you’ve been saving up for over a year,” her mom said, wanting to make sure her child understood the sacrifice.

“That’s okay. I can start saving again for next year,” she said with an earnest smile.

Doesn’t generosity make us all smile? It signals that some light still exists in an otherwise dark and self-serving world. It’s also the hallmark of a surrendered heart seeking to serve others as Jesus did.

Just like the little girl, we can make better use of the time, talent, and treasure God has given to us by being a blessing to others. It’s God’s own Spirit inside of us cheering us on each time we trust Him by saying “no” to serving ourselves and “yes” to prioritizing others. We do the choosing, but the Spirit inside us produces the changes. As we exercise Holy Spirit-driven self-control, we begin to curb our earthly desires and crave the values of God instead. In the process of dying to ourselves, Jesus is lifted and draws others to Himself.

Lord, You know how strong of an urge it is to just live for myself and meet my own needs and wants. But Your way is infinitely better. Help me to discipline myself to prioritize You and the people You love. In Jesus's name. Amen.