We all know what a detective does. The proliferation of movies and television about investigative police work has brought the concept into the public eye, world over. Determining to find out the truth about a matter, detectives listen carefully to what is said, as many do. But then they also look for evidence of what was actually done, something most do not. The best detectives persist in that, until they perceive the truth in looking at the gap between what was actually said and what was actually done.
While telling us to avoid false teachers, Jesus gave us a very sound principle to judge character. He said, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” This is a spiritual principle with universal application – our character leaves something of us behind, readily visible in the trail of our lives. Some people leave a trail of disappointment and hurt, some leave a trail of ambiguity and some leave a trail of blessing. While that is a very practical point to consider when choosing to follow a teacher, the same principle can and must also be applied to our own lives.
It’s a bit more difficult to do that of course. When considering what someone else has done and taught, you have opportunity to look with a level of objectiveness. Their past record is a matter of public history. People gain reputations, and those in their circles of influence have memories of them that can be unearthed in a simple conversation. But when considering what we ourselves been saying and leaving behind, our emotions and worldview frame us into the subjective. It becomes impossible to objectively perceive what and who we really arre. More often than not, what we remember is the intention of what we said and did, but not what we actually communicated, and not how our actions were actually perceived by others – and much are must be taken to avoid unhealthy self-absorption in trying to honestly dig down. All the same, a prayerful reflection on the fruit of our own lives can yield most helpful insights.
We all have gaps. There is what we say – about what we believe, about what we value, about what we hold dear. Then there is what we actually do. What we actually spend our time on. What we actually spend our money on. What we actually spend time thinking about. Often there is a significant gap between the two that the Lord sees plainly, even when we do not and even if we’ve come across as ambiguous to our close friends. That means that the Lord truly can give us objective feedback. If we ask for it.
Better yet, God is for us and not against us – so we can know He will not use the opportunity for feedback to gaslight us. And, as “the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God,” It is a very easy thing and natural thing for Him to search us. The reader of Scripture then can know that all we need to do is ask the Spirit of God to shine His light into our souls, and show us what we’ve left behind as we ponder each ‘season’ of our lives. Even if we cannot readily see how we’ve blessed or mistreated others, He can show us how we truly are. His feedback then allows us to see both the fruitfulness and the thorns.
Of course, that takes time and intention. One has to be in a particular frame of mind and have a place and space to spend extended time in deeply personal prayer. Yet when we do, we find that He opens our eyes to who we really are with grace and love and tenderheartedness. Those things we’ve been doing well he encourages, and those thing we need to change become clearer.
We must search our souls about the things that trigger our prayers. What values shape our requests? Are our motives honoring to Christ? To what degree are “earthly treasures” and the “god of mammon” infecting our prayer life? Amid all our worries about our health, finances, family, job, education, and ministry concerns, are we seeking first His kingdom and not our own?
Daniel Henderson & Jim Cymbala
APPLICATION: Intentionality
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Does our past demonstrate that?