Peaceable Fruits – Part 1
The writer of the book of Hebrews, inspired of the Holy Spirit, wrote, “All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.” No one likes to go through difficult times. This passage makes it plain that suffering is not joyful but full of grief. Grief is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as “deep mental anguish.” Grief comes within our lives at different times and is never convenient. During such times we are almost always required to make decisions that we would rather not make. However, grief makes us better servants of God, yielding peaceable fruits of righteousness. Having this promise from God, we may hold onto Him and reap a great bounty in His service. What are some of these peaceable fruits?
First, grief gives us occasion to understand more about God’s love. There was no one on earth who suffered more than God’s own Son, Jesus. We read in Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That statement “Christ died for us” contains more than we will ever comprehend. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane with great anguish, “not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42). He bore the grief of all mankind and took upon Himself the burden of sin for the world (Isaiah 53:4, 5). Of His own free will He went to the cross knowingly and willingly (John 10:18). He endured for a moment in time the rejection of His Father to bear the sins of the world (Mark 15:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21). When we grieve, we understand more how much love God has for us.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley