The Spirit of Jesus will have nothing to do with false love and plastic peace.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada.And every August, my friend Tim comes by with the pick of his orchard. I recently sank my teeth into one of his fresh peaches and was so amazed. He said, “Joni, that's what a peach should taste like—a combination of great soil, and the right amount of moisture and California sun!” I tell you what, it made the peaches at the supermarket taste like Styrofoam! You know, when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit, we can be tempted to try to manufacture joy and peace in our lives. But fruit born by self-effort always comes across like Styrofoam. Friend, you can paint a veneer of joy and a facade of self-control; you can project false love and plastic peace, but the Spirit of Jesus will have nothing to do with it. Remember John 15 says: “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in [Jesus].” So, friend, stay in the Vine!
© Joni and Friends