How to know a Spiritual person?

 

Galatians 6:1

One of my passions is working with wood; I enjoy building things, but to do it with precision requires a good measuring device.  How can you and I measure a person in Christ or maybe a better question is, how can we be sure we are spiritual?  First, it may be easier to remove what is not spiritual; going to church does not make one spiritual, living a good moral life does not make one spiritual, being a good husband or wife does not make one spiritual, but all of these things should be part of a spiritual person.  Being spiritual has not one thing to do with any religious activities, so how can we know if we are spiritual?

One day Jesus mother and brothers were coming to see him but the crowd would not allow them to get to him, and he was told about it and this was his reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)  Therefore, I can ask myself this question, am I in the word of God, and am I obeying what I am hearing?  If not, I am not walking in the Spirit.  A spiritual person knows they are in a battle and the apostle Paul often referred or compared our walk with Christ to a race in 1Corinthians 8:24-27.  He instructs us to run for the prize, and doing that requires self-control in all things.  Paul ends the thought in this way, “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”  But self-control is only one of the fruits of the Spirit, and so I must ask myself, am I dead to the control of my flesh, do I see the evidence of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness in my daily life? 

As one who works with wood, it has been my experience that it is much easier to build something new, than to restore a piece of furniture.  Restoring is hard work and often tedious, if you try to go too fast you may do damage that cannot be undone; the same is true with a person caught in sin or a transgression.  That is why we are instructed to restore in a spirit of gentleness, but never forget to watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  The apostle Peter instructs us to, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”  (1 Peter 4:8) I’m a dude that needs the covering that love provides.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

my blog; http://fromourbackporch.blogspot.com/