I’m Gnat Eating That!

Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!  Matthew 23:24 (NLT)

The car’s sensors blinked and beeped, signaling impending peril as the front end of my car pulled into the fast food drive thru line, narrowly missing the supersized neon menu.  A computerized voice erupted from the spinning head of a clown.  “Welcome to It’s a Wonderful Life.  Order when you’re ready.”  My flesh rumbled.  I can’t imagine why I am so hungry!  It’s only 11 am but it had been a busy morning.  I’d already fussed at my children, deleted a file on my computer, cursed the evil of inanimate objects and our pet Yorkies of questionable pedigree, provided free driving instructions to fellow commuters and my trapped passengers. And I still had to meet with a roofer to see if they could add shade covering to my corner of our home’s rooftop.

My voice oozed sweet tea kindness.  “Yes, may I please have a camel burger with manna fries, Aqua Vida bottled water, and a spiritual fruit medley cup.  Oh, by the way, is your special sauce gnat free? Because I’m gnat intolerant.”

Okay, so maybe it didn’t exactly happen like that.  Well, at least the spinning clown head part.   Whether it’s passing judgement on someone and waiting for them to clean up before I share MY Jesus or barking out more commands than a NFL quarterback on Superbowl Sunday, these are the moments when I home in with laser intensity on the gnats in my life – the things that really don’t matter, quickly turning a blind eye to the camel traipsing throughout my thoughts and actions.

22 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!  Galatians 5:22-23

It really comes down to the fruit of the spirit – fruit is singular.  Just like when we have to answer to God, there isn’t any collective we and there isn’t any fruit medley cup.

We can’t have the love without joy, peace without patience, kindness without goodness, faithfulness without gentleness.  In the memory game of our heart, the match for self-control is submission to the Holy Spirit.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25  NIV1984

Simply put, follow the Holy Spirit’s lead.  Take a moment and sift your thoughts before you speak. Every thought doesn’t require expression; every question an answer or comment.

Holy Spirit, grow in me.  Compel my heart to turn to you and cultivate a life well lived in Christ.  Amen