Stop! Trying to be a Better Person

Over the years, it's frustrated the living daylights out of me that, as much as I tried to deal with my own ingrained character flaws (and we all have them), I wasn't able to change any one of them on my own. Man, that used to drive me crazy! How about you? Back in the 16th century, the pirate Grace O'Malley terrorised the Irish seas. She was known for her ruthlessness, commanding a fleet that pillaged ships and coastal settlements. But her life took a dramatic turn after a bold encounter with England's Queen Elizabeth I. During a personal meeting, O'Malley's intelligence and fierce independence so impressed the queen that she issued a royal pardon and released her from prison. That grace encounter softened O'Malley's heart. Her life was completely turned around; her focus shifted from flagrant lawlessness, from plundering her people, to protecting them. It was a truly remarkable transformation. But none of that would have happened without that personal encounter with the queen. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person's life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. We can work on our flaws until the cows come home but honestly, real change, lasting change, almost never happens. But when we have a grace encounter with Jesus, the King of kings, He puts His Spirit – the Holy Spirit – in us and He's the one who produces the fruit, the remarkable transformation, that we've always yearned for. And there's no law against that! That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.