For decades, I’ve been told how to live the spiritual life. Unfortunately, most of the advice I’ve received is about the physical realm, not the spiritual realm at all. Teachings, books, conversations, and – sadly – my own self-talk for years center(ed) around doing more of this or that in order to attain spirituality. But spirituality has little to do with “doing.” Instead, it’s about “being.”
Imagine a man. He reads ten chapters of the Bible a day. He prays for an hour each morning, using his prayer journal. He attends a solid church, is involved in ministry several nights a week, and shares his faith in his workplace. Many would say that I just described a very spiritual, true Christian man. And yet, I’ve said nothing about the type of man this is. I’ve only talked about what he does.
The true Christian is one whose life produces the fruit of the Spirit, as defined in scripture. It is a life that displays the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. God Himself builds these traits into a person’s character, using every situation and circumstance that occurs in his or her life.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God does the doing, to make me into a being… the kind of spiritual being He wants me to be.
That is well stated. Something I wish I could fully grasp and hold to everyday.
The ramifications of this are profound and will challenge most “goal-oriented” plans.
This reminds me of a meditation on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where most Blessings are promised to a spiritual DISPOSTION, not for actions. The Merciful (not when you do compassionate acts), The Poor in Spirit (not humble words about yourself), those who Mourn (not when you cry).
As AnotherSheep points out “it’s about being” so the question for a seeker to ask might be “how can I attract God to work in me mightily?” Thankfully scripture has told us, My son give me thine heart” Prov 23:26 and then
“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro over the whole earth that He may strongly support those whose HEART is completely His. 2 Chrn 16:9
Waiting, hoping, yearning for the work of God to be done in me!
This entry brought tears to my eyes. I still struggle after, oh I guess 14 years of trying, to walk with God. I keep telling myself I need to DO more to become more like Him. I need to pray more; read more; believe more…. Grace is a scary place to trust some times and that is exactly what it takes for us to BE and not just DO. Grace is what changes us into BEING more like Jesus that causes us to BE more fruitful in the fruits of the spirit. It is easier to DO than to BE. Is that partly why the Pharasees could not believe in Jesus? It was easier to DO than to BE or let go of religious traditions? Thanks for your entry on getting spiritual – my struggle will continue until I meet Him face to face. But there is hope that God will continue the work in me that He began in the first place. He isn’t a quiter.