Hello blessed one of God, I hope you’ve had an awesome day in The Lord.
You probably noticed that I didn’t write anything when Dr. Billy Graham was called back by God to Heaven, probably because I didn’t really know much about his ministry, I didn’t really read any of his books, nor listen to any of his sermons, so, I didn’t see myself as qualified to say anything.
Nevertheless, the subject of life and death comes to my mind today. Billy Graham will probably forever be remembered as a man who feared God and served Him earnestly. I think many Christians in ministry have a clear vision of how they want to be seen now, and how they want to be remembered when they leave earth, what people will say about who they were from the impression they left, their faith, their attitude, and their good works.
In fact, it’s not a question which should be on the mind of Christians in ministry only, but of every single Christian.
That’s what brings us to today’s song “A Prayer For Grace” by Morgan Harper Nichols and Jamie Grace.
What I love the most about this song is the character traits which it outlines. The authors want to be remembered not according to their own good works or all what they achieved but according to the fruits of The Holy Spirit of God, at work in them.
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
I know I’m not perfect (yet) but what I really want in life is to bear the fruits of The Holy Spirit, not to impress anyone, not to boast, not to feel better than others but to give glory to God.
Also, I think this is what we should all have in mind, what we should fight for. There are days where our behaviour isn’t Spirit-controlled, but we don’t have to give up nonetheless. We have to confess our sins to God, receive His forgiveness, and keep the big picture in mind, who He really calls us to be.
Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
In the end, it won’t serve anything if in life we grow up as proud and judgemental Christians who never try to examine their own selves, who never learn how to receive and show grace and mercy. If we run this race and think that it is thanks to our own strength that we’re succeeding, then we’re having it all wrong.
We should ultimately know everyday that it’s the grace of God which saved us and which sustains us. This way, people who’ll turn to Christ because of us will know that it’s not about us but about Jesus, that it’s not that we had anything special which made us able to complete the race, but that it was God’s grace which was faithful to see us through our pilgrimage on earth.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
I think that’s what people will remember Dr Graham for, for bearing the fruits of The Spirit and for relying on God’s grace all his life.
I am persuaded that just like you and me, he wasn’t perfect but because he believed in God and submitted himself to Him, God was able to do so much more in him than what anyone could imagine.
The same goes for us today, the fruits of The Holy Spirit should be the canvas according to which we evaluate ourselves at the end of each day, each week, each month, each year, striving to improve as children of God, more and more as we submit to His Holy Spirit.
What’s most important isn’t what we show off to others but the change that God is producing inside of us. It’s that change which will transform us so that we perform good works which will give glory to God and not to us.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Exercise
Imagine that you are attending your own funeral and only three people are allowed to speak. One person from your family, one person from your job/work, and one person from your church.
- What would each one say of you? How will each one remember you? How would each one describe the type of person you were if they were to speak sincerely?
- Does this description give glory to God? Does it look in line with the fruits of The Holy Spirit?
- Is this how you want to be remembered in 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 or even 90 years from now? If not start to look keenly at the fruits of The Holy Spirit, and ask God to transform you in His image and to make you become a Spirit-controlled Christian everyday of your life.
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, I thank You so much for making me realize today that I can evaluate my level of growth as a Christian not with respect to my own criteria or the world’s criteria but with respect to the fruits of The Holy Spirit. Open my heart Lord and my eyes that I may see where I need improvement. Help me submit myself to Your Holy Spirit everyday so that I may bear fruits of The Holy Spirit more and more, and that I may be Spirit-filled and Spirit-controlled everyday in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen
It’s Now Your Turn
Please let us know in the comments section how you want to be remembered.
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Thank you so much for reading, you are blessed and highly favoured.
God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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