THE LITTLE THINGS!

Galatians 5:16-2416 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify thedesires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires whatis contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to thesinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you donot do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you arenot under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexualimmorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft;hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and thelike. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like thiswill not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spiritis love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful naturewith its passions and desires.

One of the most frustrating experiences for a driver is to crashinto someone else's vehicle. Sadly, this has happened to me morethan once. One evening, I was trying to park my car in a very tightspot. I hit the parked vehicle next to me as I was reversing andcreated a dent. I felt horrible!

I have to say, however, the first thought that came to my mind wasto drive off before anyone noticed. As I was leaving, though, myconscience just wouldn't let me go. I turned back.

With great reluctance, I left a note with my contact number on hiswindshield. I thought, Maybe the driver will be so touched by myhonesty, he will decide to be gracious to me. Anyway, it was a"small" dent.

That same evening, the driver called me. Despite my humbleapologies, he angrily demanded I bear the full cost of the damage.At that moment, I thought to myself, If I had driven off, I wouldhave saved myself from this humiliation and some money too. When hehung up, I began to wonder whether it was worth it.

In hindsight, I know it was! It was the right thing to do. If I hadleft, I wouldn't have had to face a hostile man, but I would havehad to face a bruised conscience. I could have rationalized that itwas a small thing, but isn't it the sum of the little things thatdetermine who we really are?

In Galatians 5, we read that those who belong to Jesus havecrucified the acts of the sinful nature and now bear the fruit ofthe Spirit. Our godly character is not just seen in the "big" thingsbut also the "little" things we do.

We are truly led by the Spirit if we live out His fruit in our dailyconversations, responses, and conduct. --Lim Chien Chong

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I exhibit more acts of the sinful nature or more aspects of thefruit of the Spirit? Can my friends affirm that?
* How can I exhibitthe fruit of the Spirit in what I say and how I respond to others?

LINKS
Family Resemblance
http://www.christianitytoday.com/moi/2001/004/jul/26.26.html

bottom line: Our character is seen in the little things.

soul journey