What Life Reveals by David Jeremiah

Tuesday, September 5

What Life Reveals 

Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. 
Luke 22:42 

Recommended Reading Galatians 5:22-23

The medical term hematidrosis refers to sweating blood—a condition where perspiration is mixed with lesser or greater amounts of human blood. Hematidrosis is rare and usually occurs in times of great physical or emotional stress—like the stress Jesus Christ was under in the Garden of Gethsemane when “His sweat became like great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44).

Regardless of the degree of stress we are under, stress has the same effect: It can reveal character. What kind of character did Christ display in the Garden of Gethsemane when He sweat drops of blood? Did He cry out in rebellion or despair? Did He flee? Did He lash out at God? No—He prayed and committed Himself to the Father’s will for His life. Indeed, we find dimensions of His character like love, peace, longsuffering, faithfulness, and self-control—character traits Paul identifies as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of Christ’s life in us.

Don’t let stress and circumstances reveal the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Instead, determine today to yield to the Spirit and to the will of God. Let others see Christ in you.

The fruit of the Spirit is not excitement or orthodoxy: it is character.
G. B. Duncan