Mark Devotions
[Please do read the passage before (or after) reading the devotion.]
God is generous with His (spiritual) gifts to us, as well as the fruit that He wants to grow in us. Yet there is responsibility involved in both. When God works in us, giving and growing, it is not just for our own benefit. It’s like an apple tree trying to hide its apples within its trunk. [You know that is not possible, and is even a laughable.] Yet we humans do it. God in His grace sends His Holy Spirit into the believer so that Jesus Christ’s Presence is experienced and His Character is formed in us. But so often we would rather keep that to ourselves – or worse still not really believe that any of that has happened (or is happening). Jesus encourages us to let His Presence be revealed through our lives by word and works. The more we do, the more He fills us; the less we do, the more we allow Him to diminish in us.
Prayer: Thank you for your generosity, my Lord and Savior. You have given everything we need “for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). And yet I am not satisfied, and sometimes even unbelieving. I wish you would give me what I want, not realizing that you have given me all I need. Forgive me for not wanting to reveal the fruit that you want to bring forth from me – fruit that will refresh and sustain other lives. I hear your voice Lord that bids me to show your love, patience, kindness, joy, peace, and all the other fruit that you are growing in me. May your fruit overflow from me Lord Jesus, for your glory. Amen.
