What are some of the evidences of those who have true faith?

I’d like you to think for a moment of someone who you really admire. Not necessarily a favorite athlete, or a famous person who you personally don’t have a relationship with, or somebody you only know by reputation. Rather, think of a person who has made a positive impression on you, and who you might go to for advice, and who you genuinely enjoy spending time with.

The person who comes to my mind is actually a friend who I’ll meet with for coffee tomorrow morning. One of the reasons I admire him so much, and can hardly wait to catch up every time we get together … in large part is because of how he handled an incredibly difficult situation a few years ago. The circumstances were so bad, and so wrong, without any fault of his at all … yet he lost almost everything in his life that he held dear, and had worked tirelessly for.

I’ve been privileged to see first hand, how this devoted Christian friend lived out the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ throughout an overwhelming ordeal that was very public in our small community.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that the person you may be thinking about right now (who you admire) does not fall into the following category that the Apostle Paul mentions in Galatians 5:19-21:

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

However, my close friend (and probably the person you’re thinking of) most definitely falls into the description given by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 when he says:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

We’re all guaranteed to face storms throughout our lifetimes … but as follower’s of Christ, we won’t ever have to face them alone!

I’m inspired to continually surrender ownership of my life (moment-by-moment) to the Lord who lives within me, in large part due to others like my friend who have allowed the Holy Spirit in their lives to shine so brightly!