Bruised Fruit

I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:18, 22–23-25 NIV 1984). 

My Musings – Unfortunately, even though we are born again we still have a sin nature “waging war against” our minds and the desires of our “inner being [that] delight in God’s laws” and doing “what is good.”  So sometimes, maybe even often, we fail.  The fruit of the spirit is bruised as the “acts of the sinful nature” rise to the surface.  So what distinguishes the “bruised fruit” from being “bad fruit” coming from a “bad tree?”  Why isn’t this “flesh giving birth to flesh” (see yesterday’s blog)? 

We still “have the desire to do what is good.”   In our “inner being [we still] delight in God’s laws.”  The “Spirit [will still] give birth to spirit.” We’re just still infants learning to walk.  Children learning to not get knocked down. Adults learning not to stumble.  But we still keep getting back up.  walking a little farther, not getting knocked down as often, maintaining our balance more consistently.  Not in our own power, of course, but through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

My Advice – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV 1984).  “If we confess our sins” presumes that we will sin.  But we don’t continue to “walk in the darkness.”  We confess, He forgives, and we resume “[walking] in the light, as he is in the light.” (1 John 1:7, NIV 1984).  And the bruises are healed.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing