As we continue here, I can think of one question. When will the fruit come into the picture? This "prelude" actually shows a lot about the fruit. What we are on the inside shows who we really are - without the mask that we may put on for others.
Galatians 5:14 AMP
14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]."
What has the Law have to do with fruit? The Law has everything to do with the fruit. It shows us what we are to be striving to be like. Here in this scripture, it shows that Love is the root of the good fruit. Love others. Don't be selfish like the people out in the world are like. We don't like to be around the selfish people. They only think and talk about themselves. Even when you are trying to tell them that you need someone to talk to because of something that may have happened. On and on they go about what a good thing that they did.
We need to be concerned about others. Do things for them just because Abba asks us to. We don't need to be selfish like the world and do it so it will be seen by others. Hmmm. Doesn't that sound like the Pharisees? Jesus called them 'white-washed tombs'!
Matthew 23:27-28 AMP
27 "Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which look beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
As followers of Jesus, we need to rise above this. We are called to be ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20 AMP
20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ's representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God.
As ambassadors for Christ, let us glorify Him by our actions towards others without expecting anything in return.
Self Examination
What are our actions towards others? Are we expecting to receive the 'applause' or are we doing this because there is a need and want to show the Love of Christ to them? If it is the former, now is the time to repent of that and do a turn around. Let us Love others as Christ loves them.
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