Love takes the "work" out of work.

If you are around long enough, you will realize what religion is excellent at is to take a beautiful verse in scripture and pull it out of context to mean some scary thing to manipulate you into "doing" something.  And when the light comes on inside and you have the audacity to stand against these errors...you will get branded and called all sorts of hideous things. The hardest part is not being misunderstood, it is not friends leaving you, it is not the name-calling and the ridicule..., but it is to watch, as these sincere people "really believe they are doing God a service."

When it comes to the area of "producing fruit" and doing "good works," I cannot tell you of a another topic that is such a heated one right now. It amazes me how much "efforts" that is read back into verses (which has nothing to do with efforts) to make you feel like you are not "doing" enough.  The whole focus is on "you" and "your doing" with Jesus as this side-kick dude who loves you but has to guard you from an angry Father cause if you mess up too much...He's gonna zap your butt!  Now I know I over exaggerated here, but if you step out of the box and think about it, isn't that kind of the view we have?

Religion will tell you of a god who is jealous...but says it is wrong for you to be jealous. Of a god who hates His enemies...but says you have to love them. Of a god who wants to take revenge on the wicked...but you are to do good unto them.  Almost sounds like saying you should be "better" than God!?  They say you must do this and that to "imitate" Him and don't realize how their concept of Him makes that no sense at all. No wonder why people get confused. If I tell you to imitate me, then you will do the SAME THING I am doing. If you are to imitate God...then He must be doing the same thing you are told imitate.

The saddest thing to me, is how Jesus physically came into this world two thousand years ago and the religious leaders of that day (the most excellent scholars who knew the Scriptures front to back) completely missed God as He walked within their midst!  Why?  They were looking for this god who hated sinners, who would overturn the wicked and send fire down from heaven (doesn't that sound a little like the God religion tries to shove down our throats today?) but He didn't do any of it.  He came and lived among sinners, He ate and drank with them, He loved them and healed them and did good freely and did not condemn them. He was so completely different than the god religion had fashioned in their minds.  Moreover, this radical Jesus is "the perfect representation of God (the Father)!"

This God is the "same yesterday, today, and forever.”  He is not going to change, ever!  He is not going to like you today and hate you tomorrow. He is not going to do good to you today and send trouble your way tomorrow. He is not going to be with you today and leave you tomorrow.  He does not change His mind about you.  Just as loved as Jesus is by the Father - is just as loved as you are by Him too. He is love and He accepts you no matter what. "I am convinced that NOTHING can ever separate us from the love of God!"

Now concerning "good works" and "being fruitful," I want to show you how beautiful this thing can really be.  I know many people tend to get blown off when it comes to this topic (and rightfully so) because of how legalists have turned it into such a "works-performance,” but do not let them rob you of this area.  At the same time, do not get focused on the outside.  That is what legalists love to do.  They simply have a veil over their eyes and put the cart before the horse.  When they read the scriptures, they may see "law" but when you view it you can see "grace.”  Grace gives you a very different perspective.

I first want to take a look at eternal life, as it's been so watered down in many circles today. Eternal life is "life without beginning or end.”  Who has life without being or end?  God!  When you received eternal life - what did you receive? God's life!  He gave you His life as a FREE gift.  You do NOT have to do anything to earn, keep, or deserve this gift.  The Christian life is not a changed life...it is an "exchanged" life!  You are not who you used to be.  That old man was brutally done away with at the cross.  When Jesus died, you died with Him.  In addition, when He was raised, you were raised with Him!  Do you get this union?  Do you see how closely connected you are with Him?  "And this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”  (John 17:3)  Do you see that word "know" there in verse 3?  It is an experiential intimate kind of know and is just like the Hebrew word where it says, "Adam knew his wife and she conceived and bore a son" (Genesis 4:1).  In a very similar way, as Adam knew his wife, you will "know" God!  Eternal life is not just about living forever (you will do that anyway whether you're a Christian or not - just depends where) but this is about having intimacy with God - and it just happens to last forever!

Have you stopped to think of all the New Testament verses that have to do with marriage?  I did not until I got married.  I used to skim read right along and not give too much thought to those.  However, after almost half a year of marriage, these verses pop out like popcorn in a microwave to me now!  For instance the Bible says concerning marriage "this is a great mystery, but it actually speaks of Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:32) and that "you are married to Christ" (Romans 7:4) and that "you have been united to Him and are one spirit with the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 6:17) ...do you get the message here?  In the very same way, when a man is joined with his wife, they become ONE.  When you were joined with the Lord, you also became ONE.  Let no man separate what God has joined together.  Stop thinking of a faraway distance deity, no, He is one Spirit with you and you are in an intimate relationship with Him! He is HAPPY to call you His bride.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  He is a GOOD husband, and you are not a dirty rotten good for nothing bride either...you are a pure, spotless, innocent, and beautiful bride in His eyes (thanks to the FINISHED work of Jesus).

In the same way as a marriage functions, the Bible says that Jesus also leads the church (His bride) by "cherishing her.”  In a marriage the wife submits to her husband (submits to his love/allows him to love her) and in a sense - what happens?  They bear fruit - children!  It is a natural occurrence as the wife allows her husband to love on her.  It is birthed out of love.  Now with that said, just as a wife submits to her husband, you are to submit to God by allowing Him to love you (you are His bride after all).  As you simply remain in His love, what happens?  You enjoy the fruits of the Spirit!  The fruits of the Spirit are Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). 

Now does a husband cause his wife to bear children by standing back and commanding her to, yelling at her, shaking her, telling her she needs to be bearing more, or that she is going to hell if she does not start producing?  Of course not.  That would be plain stupid.  If my wife never gave me children...would I divorce her and kick her out of the household?  No way!  Why do we think it would be any different when it comes to being a bride of Jesus?  We love because He first loved us.  Moreover, let me ask you something (and sorry if this sounds offensive to you) but is "sex" a work?  Now you can technically call it a "work" if you want to as you are being active...but it doesn't feel like it cause it's flowing out of love!  See love takes the "work" out of work.  It is nothing like shoveling dirt for hours straight or doing something you hate is it?  Boy there is so much to say about this!

There is a passage in Revelation that the Spirit is talking to the church at Ephesus and He says to return to what you did first and that you have left your first love (Revelations 2:4).  We have been taught that means you have stopping working hard enough for him and you need to start doing more to prove you really love Him...but that is not what it is saying.  In the light of what I have just shared with you - I'll let you dig down deeper into this and discover the answer for yourself!  Remember God loves you (I emphasis this over and over cause many people feel he does not).  Moreover, as you rest in His love, fruit will be growing like a pregnant woman with child - naturally!  Do not try to make it happen yourself or be caught up with externals.  That is not the kind of "fruit" I am talking about.  Don't stuff a pillow under your shirt so others think your so ripe with child.  Do not sow fig leaves on and try to work yourself over the edge.  However, gaze at Him and indulge in His grace - and true "fruit" will be one awesome privilege!