Yesterday I attended a funeral at my childhood church.   This was the little church I began attending with a friend at the age of eleven.  Sadly, the funeral was for my first Sunday school teacher, Ellen Sears.

I heard testimonies from many people who were touched by Ellen’s life.  What a testimony of a Christian life!   What people remembered the most about this lady was what she did for them.  The smile she gave her grandchildren’s bus driver (who is also a pastor) and the times they talked about Jesus;  A young man that she and her family took in for a few years that absolutely changed his life; The nieces and nephew that she lavished with love and fun … her love for Jesus in action as she served people in her church and community.  It was about her FRUIT.

During the service, this scripture came to my heart:

1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

I don’t care how gifted you are or what title you have.  Your LIFE produces the fruit of what you truly believe.  Your LIFE reflects your intimacy with Jesus.

Do you LOOK just like the world around you?

Ephesians 5:3-7
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.  Therefore do not be partners with them.

Yes we are saved.  Yes we are forgiven.  Yes we still need to reflect our Lord.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to compromise.  My heart’s desire is to smell like God’s presence.  DO I FAIL?  YES.   Do I ever grieve the Holy Spirit?  I’m sure I do.  But does that change scripture?  No.

Friends, I am so tired of seeing compromise in the Body.  We SHOULD NOT call what is EVIL something good.

Ephesians 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

PURITY

Christians are to live as children of light.  The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, truth and finds out what pleases the Lord.

DO NOT COMPROMISE

My hunger has always been this:  I am never content with the status quo.   I do not want to go to church to check off a box.  I want a firm foundation of God’s Word.   I want to walk with a body of believers who want MORE (always) and want to walk in the freedom Jesus provides for us.   This means walking in the forgiveness given, but also REFLECTING holiness.   I want God’s Presence to be tangible when God’s people gather together.  I hunger to see the sick healed, demons cast out of those in bondage, restoration to those addicted — God’s complete will manifested in the lives of others.  This has been my heart’s desire for most of my adult life.

You have gifts?  You can prophesy?  You can read the hearts of man?  Great!   As Shania Twain would say, “That don’t impress me much!”  Seriously, I AM NOT impressed by your title if your life doesn’t reflect Truth, love, and wisdom.   I’m more interested in the fruit in your life.  That is just wisdom folks.

Desire God’s Presence.  Desire intimacy and relationship with Him.  Know His voice.   Have experiences with Him.   Desire purity and holiness.