Theme:

                "Living and Enjoying the 
               Fruit of the Spirit"

                      Day 9

             FRUIT:  MEEKNESS

                Memory Verse:

             "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the 
             servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth:
              but I have called you friends; for all things 
              that I have heard of My Father I have made 
            known unto you.

              "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you,
             and ordained you, that ye should go and
              bring forth fruit, and that your 
             fruit should remain:
             that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father
             in My name, He may give it you"
            --John 15:15, 16

Tucked away almost out of sight in our grape cluster
we find meekness!  What is MEEKNESS?
 Submission?  a Meek Mouse?  a Door Mat?  

True meekness is not slave-like submission. 
 Rather it is that quality which comes from praying
to be more and more like the Lord Jesus
 and giving your whole self over into His loving and
capable hands.

 "The servant of the Lord must not quarrel (strive);
but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
in meekness instructing those that oppose...the truth"
(II Timothy 2:24, 25).

God's Word is most specific about
all phases of Christian behavior--
it is truly an "Instructor in Meekness" to all who read it
 with the desire to be more and more like Christ.

WE can learn meekness only from the Lord
who says to us, "Learn of Me;
for I am MEEK and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

Are you easily provoked? 
Do you believe in "standing up for your rights"?
  Consider your position in Christ. 
 If He, the meek and lowly, is your LIFE,
how can you refuse to let Him transform your life,
making you ready to give in rather
than lost a friend or your witness for Christ. 

We have learned that our Lord Jesus has chosen
and appointed (ordained) us to be as much like Him
 as possible--to bear the fruit of His own character--
and have that fruit remain, or continue, in you.  

As you read the New Testament,
 watch for practical suggestions
for improving your Christian character. 
Especially look for these in Paul's letters
to the early Christians (from Romans through Philemon).
  Then mark in your Bible the verses that tell you
 how to behave as a Christian. 
 When you come across the word "walk,"
 substitute the word BEHAVE.  

Read Ephesians 4:1-3. 
What difference should these verses make in our lives? 
 How many of the fruit of the Spirit
do you find in these three verses? 
 If we are MEEK, longsuffering, love and peace in our hearts
can't help but show forth to others.

I Peter 3:15 tells us that we are to be always ready
 to witness for Christ, in a spirit of MEEKNESS. 
 The chief qualification for witnessing
 is this spirit of MEEKNESS.  

Then read I Timothy 6:11. 
 What a line-up of virtues-righteousness or uprightness,
 godliness, faith, love, patience,  MEEKNESS! 
And MEEKNESS is the climax of them all. 
As we develop the habit of moment by moment
 dependence on the Holy Spirit,
claiming His enabling to help us follow these qualities,
what changes will take place in us? 
 We will develop a deep sense of spiritual balance
and true poise and tact. 
 WE will win more friends and influence
more people than we ever thought we could. 
Shall we pray for yielded hearts
so that we will all bear an abundant supply
of the fruit of MEEKNESS!

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                 Midi Playing:

                  "A Well Springs Up in My Soul"