Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #5

NORSK
Today, I will share the last of five reasons that can be used as an answer to the question in the headline:

5) God chose TSA because we have a holistic view on humanity and care for the whole person for this world and the next. (1)

Very often people have come to me and said: “TSA does a lot of good!” 
– and often they continue tell me why they have come to this conclusion. Even though I am partial, and even though I wish that we could have done even more, I think they are right. When I was brought up in our movement, I just thought it was something we should do. Later in life I have realized that this very much part of our DNA and how we view humanity. It was a vital part of the mission from the very beginning, however, it became very clear when William Booth many years later wrote an article and defined it as “Salvation for both worlds” (2). One of the first William Booth quotes I learned as a junior-soldier was: “You cannot preach the gospel to a person with an empty stomach!”.

This is also part of how TSA views holiness, and the reminder from Paul is even included in our holiness-doctrine:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thess 5:23

Like the rest of humanity, I am created with spirit, soul and body. Caring for others must involve all aspects. When God saw this happen, he chose to strengthen and bless those whose hearts were fully committed to him and his mission.

‘Manna’ for today:

Salvation is for both worlds

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(1) The whole series:
# 1 God chose TSA because of people with a calling and a passion!
# 2 God chose TSA because we focus on the fact that everyone is called!
# 3 God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry
# 4 God chose TSA because we focus on the content of the baptism and the agape meal,

# 5 God chose TSA because we have a holistic view 

(2) See: The upper “crust” of a prophetic sandwich

Why did God choose The Salvation Army? #3

NORSK
I believe God chose The Salvation Army because he needed not only the prophetic voice of those whose hearts were fully committed to him, but also their prophetic actions. I guess that many who read ‘their prophetic actions’, immediately think about the social ministry of The Salvation Army. This is of course very important, but in this field we are far from being lonely activists. Down through the history of the Church, many Christians from different traditions have had focus on the diaconal side of Christian living, and in doing so contributed to making the faith credible.

I believe God chose to strengthen and bless William and Catherine Booth, because he saw the potential of Catherine’s prophetic voice and action, and that William would be ready to support her. So I think the third answer to the question above is:

3) God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry(1)

This view is closely related to holiness simply because there is no holiness outside of Christ. Paul describes our status in Jesus Christ in this way:

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:28

In other words, it is contradictory to holiness and to the essence of what Jesus is all about if people in a church are limited because of their race, social status or gender. In our movement a saved person from the gutter or the prison, should be worthy the same trust as a saved person with a spotless record and university degrees. In fact, sometimes it has taken longer for representatives from the latter group to be accepted, which was the case for Samuel Logan Brengle.

The same attitude of equality relates to ethnic background and to gender. When we read the history of the Church, a general observation is that women have not been treated as equal to men with regard to the right to ministry.

I am convinced that it has been in the devil’s interest to keep it this way. Therefore, God chose to bless TSA because he wants to mobilize women, single or married. This is still a challenge even in our own movement. There is a tendency to give the leading positions to men rather than women. This tendency becomes particularly evident when appointments are given to married couples. So, for the sake of the mission and a desire to keep God’s blessing upon our movement, we are now making efforts to ensure that our rules and practices are in line with the rules and practices in Christ.
‘Manna’ for today:

What is right in Christ, is right in the church

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(1) The whole series:
# 1 God chose TSA because of people with a calling and a passion!
# 2 God chose TSA because we focus on the fact that everyone is called!
# 3 God chose TSA because everyone who receives the call has the same right to ministry
# 4 God chose TSA because we focus on the content of the baptism and the agape meal,

# 5 God chose TSA because we have a holistic view

On the arena of purity

NORSK
Today I am entering the last arena on which I am called to set an example

“…set an example … in purity…”
1 Tim 4:12

If you are a frequent reader and have followed my blog for some time, you may remember that I some months back wrote that holiness is about purity (1).

For William Booth holiness was a synonym for holiness, “A pure heart will ensure a Holy Life!” he stated in the 4th chapter of his book “Purity of heart” (2) – the tittle confirms his focus.

That the arena of purity comes last, confirms to me that there is a thought about a progression in the order Paul presented them. After his conversion, Paul’s life had been a continues race towards the goal of Christ likeness. When he wrote to the Philippians, it is participation in this race he asks his readers to see as an example:

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
Phil 3:17

‘Manna’ for today:

Role models chase for purity

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(1) «It is about purity»
(2) William Booth in “The Founder Speaks again” SP&S 1960 s 20

The least of all the saints

Today’s reading in the Norwegian Bible-reading plan takes me back to Paul the mentor and how his self-image:

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship[a] of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ
Eph 3:8-9

Paul’s testimony is interesting. It reveals humility, but alsogratitude because he can include himself among the saints. However, it complicates his teaching about being holy “in Christ”. Because if we all depend entirely on the holiness of Jesus, this fact seems to be impossible to combine with an idea of a hierarchy of holiness. 

Nevertheless, it is not difficult to identify with Paul’s description. Anyone who wants to live a holy life will feel that it is “far to the goal”, and therefore it is easy to see oneself as less than the least. But, the miracle of grace is that it is sufficient to be I included in the community of the saint. It was enough for Paul, and it was a precondition to be able to preach among the Gentiles. For if he himself had not grasped a glimpse of the mystery, he would not have been able to lead others into it. This applies to preaching in general and mentoring specially - and tomorrow Timothy will be back in the reflections.

Today 'manna':

It does not matter to be less than the least as long as I am holy

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* The Goldcrest is the smallest bird in Europe, but still a bird like the proud eagle, but the least of them all, and very beautiful...

It is about life-style

NORSK
In many ways holiness is a life-style, and life-style is a result of habits. Many will claim that it takes three weeks to develop a habit, and three months to get a life-style.

This thesis is one of the keys in the discipleship-program of Dr. Charles Lake, a program we also use in the Salvation Army in several countries. Lake applies this principle to daily Bible-reading and prayer. It takes three weeks before this becomes a habit, followed by another three weeks before you miss the exercise. However, after three months it has become a life-style. Particularly in the first phase this takes discipline, and therefore you need someone to be accountable to.

I have seen how this principle can function in my own life and in the lives of others. If there is an area where it is important to keep two thoughts in the head at the same time, it must be when the subject is discipline. Holiness is the working by God, and a result of his grace and love. Apart from receiving in faith, there is nothing I can do to save myself or to live a holy life. Salvation and sanctification is in Jesus, and in him alone. However, the principles that are valid in our physical life, are often the principles that will work also in the spiritual life.

My physical existence is a result of the love of my parents. In the same way as I cannot ‘save myself’, I could not “create myself”. From the moment I was born again, a development started I which I became more and more responsible steward of my own life. It was all about learning good habits, like e.g. to eat healthy food, get enough sleep, have good routines for personal hygiene and learn as much as I could about the world in which I am a citizen. If I do not manage to develop one good habit, I would still remain a world-citizen, even though it is not likely that I would have lived to my present age if I completely neglected my body and my life.

Thus, holiness is depending upon what I want and upon discipline to develop which makes it possible to live a good life in the holiness I have in Jesus Christ. In other words, I have part in the holy life, but what I do with this life is very much for me to choose. It can be good to have a mentor who can encourage me like e.g. Paul encouraged Timothy:

But you, man of God (1)
1 Tim 6:11

‘Manna’ for today:

I want holiness to be my life-style

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(1) Maybe the ‘formation’ of Timothy will be the focus for the next period?

It is about habits

NORSK
I am close to the end of the series from the “Well of holiness”. Perhaps you will not notice that I slowly move to other themes. For more than three months I have focused on different aspects of holiness, and I have also used impulses from themes that relate to holiness. 

Since holiness in principle is part of everything that has to with Christian living, it should not surprise anybody that the different themes often touch the same base.

Yet another couple of days the reflection will be about holiness. With Jesus as role-model, it will be useful to see what kind of habits he had. My habits strongly contribute to my formation, and I also believe that they influenced Jesus:

“Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did.”
Luke 4:16

I believe Jesus built a strong foundation due to the habit of going to the synagogue, the place of worship and reading of the Scriptures. What we normally do becomes so normal that it almost happens by itself. Thus it is important the habits I develop are the good ones. Mary and Joseph must have given Jesus a good upbringing including the formation of good habits. I believe we can encourage one another to form such habits even as seniors. 

Tomorrow I will write more about this. Today I praise God because Jesus did what he normally did, and it was just on the spot where he normally went that he under the anointing of the Spirit proclaimed who he is (1).

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about formation of good habits

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* Children praying before they go to Sunday School - Magna took the pic last Sunday in Georgia
(1) See: ‘It is about an important part of the package’

It is about the goal of all fruit

NORSK
Today I look at the last ingredient in Peter’s fruit-recipe. It is also the goal for all fruit, and the natural end of the spiritual chain-reaction:

“.. add to brotherly kindness … love”
2 Pet 1:7

I have written a lot about love here on the blog (1), but also today’s reminder amplifies the core of the Christian faith.  Paul mentioned love as the first characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit on his list. It was love that made God send his only begotten Son to the world to save us. Jesus said that as he himself was sent, he sends us – meaning that we are sent by and with love.

• Love adds up all fruit.
• Love adds up holiness.
• Love is the beginning and the end 
• Love includes all, not only the family of believers.
• All means that YOU are loved.
• All means that I am loved.

When I am loved, I will endure to be corrected and disciplined because I know and feel that it happens in love.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness and fruit are captured in one word: Love

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(1) Look under the label Love

It is about brotherly kindness

NORSK
We are four siblings who because of geographical reasons only on rare occasions are able to be together. However, there is a lot that binds us together, and I love them. 

I have also a lot of other siblings. Peter calls them my family of believers throughout the world (1), and there is a lot that binds us together as well. Some of them I meet often, and some I work with almost daily. In relation to them is Peter’s fruit-recipe important:

“.. add to godliness … brotherly kindness”
2 Pet 1:7

Once again is Paul 100% in line with Peter:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Gal 6:10

The best example of love in the family of believers, are my two hands. Like the family of believers, my hands belong to the same body. From experience I know that my hands may hurt one another. Down through the years I have enhanced my skills as a carpenter, but even so, I still manage to miss the target when I hold a hammer in one hand and a nail in the other. Instead of starting a fight, I know that my hands will seek to one another to ease the pain. My head is telling them to do that. The head, in the spiritual body, is Christ. He does not want his own body to be disintegrated. 

‘Manna’ for today:

Brotherly kindness is a fruit that will keep the body of Christ integrated

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(1) 1 Pet 5:9

It is about insight

NORSK
I like a good overview and a deep insight in all meanings of the words. Therefore, I prefer to look at several translations of the Bible, particularly when I only look at one verse – an even more important when my focus is on a single word. 

When I look at the ingredients of Peter’s fruit-recipe, I need to do it word by word. Today it is about the Greek word ‘gnosis’, and most English version choose ‘knowledge’ in their translation:

“add to your …virtue knowledge,”
2 Pet 1:5 

‘Gnosis’ can be translated: ‘knowledge, understanding or insight’ – therefore knowledge is 100% acceptable. Personally, I prefer ‘insight’, and I had to check the English definition of the word, and here is one: Insight = ‘penetrating mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing into inner character or underlying truth’. 

I realise that I have English as my second language with the limited ‘insight’ that involves, but I think Peter has the spiritual insight in mind when he uses this ingredient in his recipe. And even thought knowledge may contain this nuance as well (1), I feel that ‘insight’ better explains why it is placed as the third ingredient in the recipe, or third link in the chain.

It begins with faith, and to faith I add the virtues I choose as values for my life. This choice leads to a new insight, an inner recognition of the fact that I stand in a meaningful relation both with God and my fellow men. This create a form of base on which a small seed may find enough nourishment to start to grow. The seed is the hope of fruit

‘Manna’ for today:

Insight nourishes hope for fruit

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(1) Three reflections on knowing:

• ‘It is about knowing as in …#1’
• ‘It is about knowing as in …#2’
• ‘It is about knowing as in …#3’

It is about the ingredient faith

NORSK
Yesterday I wrote about the fact that I need to find recipe for my favourite Christmas cookies even though I am able to recall most of the ingredients. The order the ingredients go into the dough is important, likewise the temperature, but I will write about the temperature later. 

I do not think that it was an accident that Peter started his “fruit-recipe” with the ingredient ‘faith’ (1). Without faith everything I write is just rubbish, or ‘foolishness’ to use the word of the Bible (2).

I believe all human beings have received a measure of faith. The Norwegian world evangelist, Aril Edvardsen, said something similar to this on several occasions: “The problem is not that people do not believe, on the contrary they are ready to believe in anything!”

It is understandable. I have had a lot of conversations with self-declared non-believers, who are ready to confess that they have a great desire to believe, but are not able to. It is a paradox that they have this desire if there is nothing that creates that desire. I believe that desire is there because we are created in the image of God. We long to come back to our origin, to our right element, to use an image Augustin used (3).

Many dare not believe because they are disappointed by religion in general, and by “Church” – in this context synonym with all organized expressions of Christianity. And I do understand them. I am not in the Salvation Army because it is a flawless organization run by flawless people. First and foremost, I believe because I have experienced that it is all about life and reproduction of life. That I have chosen to live this life in the Salvation Army is secondary.

To believe is a pilgrimage in the direction of the mystery we call ‘God’, a pilgrimage home where I belong, and it is an indescribable experience to be received as a ‘home-comer’. Of course I lose my footing when I start on such a journey, but that is momentarily. If I do not dare to start I lose myself. Even those words were not mine. I borrowed them from Søren Kierkegaard, but I have experienced that it is true. Faith is a movement, it is not an accomplishment, but it does help make an effort (1)!

‘Manna’ for today:

Fruit-production starts with the ingredient ‘faith’

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(1) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith 2 Pet 1:5
(2) 1 Cor 1:18
(3) Augustin: ‘Like the bird in a cage longs for the air, and the fish on the shore longs for the sea, so does man long for his right element – God!’

It is about recipes

NORSK
No doubt, Christmas is just around the corner, and I really look forward to spend the rest of this year’s furlough in Norway in connection with Christmas. I hope I will be able to trace the rather worn card with the recipe for my favourite Christmas cookies, because I do not know the recipe by heart even though I have baked the cakes for more than 30 years.

The focus is of course not cookies for the Christmas season, but the fact that a recipe is important even though I can remember most of the ingredients. It also applies to growing the fruit of the Spirit, and Peter has supplied a recipe, which also comes handy when we prepare for the harvest season:

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 1:5-8

 It is very interesting to observe the sequence of ingredients:

• Faith
• Virtue
• Knowledge
• Self-control
• Perseverance
• Godliness
• Brotherly kindness
• Love

Before I start baking my Christmas cookies, it is important to make sure that I have all the ingredients in the house. It is even a good idea to check if all the ingredients for Peter’s fruit-recipe are in the house, or rather in the “temple” to stick to the holiness-terminology. Because when the ingredients are in place I will according to Peter not be unfruitful. The next days I will check the quality of the ingredients – stay with me!

‘Manna’ for today:

The fruit of holiness is about the right ingredients

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The illustration is from Egner's play: 'In the Forest of Huckybucky' - the scene is from the story about recipe of the double-peppered pepper-nuts. Watch the trailer for the movie

It is about living in the light

NORSK
For three years, I worked in Securitas and learned quite a lot about security both in relation to prevention of crime, and also with regard to creating good routines for the times when something unfortunate had happened. The by far best single factor in the protection of both property and human individuals is light.

Actually, I knew this from many years of Sunday School attendance:

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:20-21

These are the words of Jesus. He even said that judgment is that the light came to the earth. Light exposes me, and when I am exposed, my first thought is to justify myself. It is one of the most evident human faculties to try the escape by blaming others. 

This tendency goes all the way back to the story of the fall. Adam blamed the woman, and even God for giving him the woman, Eve on her part blamed the serpent (1). The exposed Peter represents in many ways a counterpart. He made a full surrender under Jesus' interrogation: "Peter do you love me?" Peter’s reply: “Lord, you know all things” (2) is also a testimony of his awareness: “I know that I live in the light!” - Such an awareness grows the fruit, - the fruit of the light:

The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth
Eph 5:9

Like goodness, which I mentioned yesterday, righteousness and truth are divine attributes.

Jesus confessed: “I am the truth” (3), and in him I have also part in God’s righteousness (4). The fruit is a consequence of living in the light.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about living in the light.

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(1) The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Gen 3:12-13
(2) John 21:17
(3) John 14:6
(4) God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Cor 5:21

It is about making it your experience

NORSK
Yesterday, I wrote about pleasing the Lord, and today I follow up with:

“- find out what pleases the Lord!”
Eph 5:10

Paul is clear: “Test for yourself!”

Paul placed his exhortation in a context where he encourages his readers to live as children of light and bear the fruit of the light. He even describes what this fruit is like, and again it is one fruit with different qualities:

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth
Eph 5:9

Paul frequently referred to “goodness” and also described “goodness” as a quality of the fruit of the Spirit (1). It is logical that the qualities are the same, because there is no controversy between living as children of light and living as children of God, for as Paul writes “you are light in the Lord” (2).

My experience is that it pleases the Lord when I represent a contrast to the darkness of this world. It was on that note I started to drink from the “Well of holiness” with the reflection “Dare to be different” three months ago.

The illustration photo was taken during my sermon last Sunday. The theme was: “Arise and shine!”. (3). If you are going shine in the light of Jesus in a dark world, you have to rise up. Test and see!

‘Manna’ for today_

Holiness is about making it your own experience.

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(1) See "It is about following in a double meaning"
(2) "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light" Eph 5:8
(3) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Isa 60:1

It is about the good circle

NORSK
As a child, I used all my volume when I sang “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam” and the song taught me that it would happen by me trying to please him in every way. It was a good song to sing.

However, if the song is used in combination with e.g.: “O be careful little eyes what you see”, I am not sure that it necessarily leaves children with a correct image of God. 

The challenge is even bigger in Norwegian. In our version “the Father up above” translates well, while the next line stops with “he is looking down” and skips “in love” because love needs two extra syllables in Norwegian. Two syllables can make a lot of difference.

I am sure that the intentions of the translator were good, and the Biblical truth is still there. The point is that the base, which must be the experience and understanding of God who is boundless in love and grace, needs to be built first. It is the sequence of things that is important - a matter of concern even for Paul:

“..since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..”
Col 1:9-10

As I grow older my understanding of how much I am loved has been steadily growing, and that experience has become the motivation for my longing to please the Lord, not just a little, but in every way. I believe that the result will be that I bear more fruit and grow in my knowledge of him. This will please both him, and me, and I find myself in “a good circle” – also called the process of holiness.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about the good circle

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It is about values worth living and dying for

NORSK
A couple of weeks back I wrote about “Faithfulness” and I used my granddad as an example. He was also very faithful when opportunity was given to testify, and he very often used the same verses and illustrations. For this reason, many of his family members still remember what he said. I can still “hear” him quoting the following verse from a Scandinavian song:

Fight for all that you hold dear
Die if necessary
Life is then worth living here
Death - no adversary. (1)

As a little boy, I thought the words were very dramatic, but after a while, I grasped the content. Unfortunately, the situation in the world, with suicide-bombing and terror, has made it problematic to write: “It is good to have values that are worth dying for”. All the same, I will stand firm on the statement: I will rather die believing that love will overcome evil, than to meet evil with evil. I have written similar things earlier (2). 

However, today it is about values worth living FOR:

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
Phil 1:21-22

Paul longed to be with Christ in eternity. At the same time, he was motivated by the fact that to continue to live here on earth would mean “fruit from his labour” – holy fruit, in his own life and from his life through people who would receive new life in Christ. To bear fruit is a motivation for my life here on earth. It is a God given and holy motivation.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is about labour that bears fruit

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(1) I apologize for the translation, but I have not been able to trace an English translation of:
Kjemp for alt hva du har kjært,
dø om så det gjelder!
Da er livet ei så svært,
døden ikke heller.
(2) Only available in "google translate": "Derfor er kjærligheten mitt 'våpen' mot terror" og "Vi er i kamp"

It is about fruit with consequences

NORSK
Internet has in many ways outdated me. Previously, it was not uncommon to receive a phone call or an sms with questions like:  
“Where in the Bible can I read about ....?” - followed by a phrase, a name or just a theme.

No one ever asked me where it is possible to read about Epenetus or Stephanas. 

Perhaps just as well, for I had certainly not made it on the fly. Nevertheless, behind the names I find food for the thought: They are examples of a first fruit - with remarkable consequences:

Greet my dear Epenetus, who is a first fruit of Christ in Asia.
Romans 16:5

You know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints.
1 Corinthians 16:15

There is not a lot of information about them, but it is clear that the first fruit led to more fruit. It is not unlikely that Epenetus had left Asia to do mission in Rome - may be he even was one of the 'founders'?

The family of Stephanas does not seem to have travelled far but “devoted themselves to the ministry”, probably in their home province of Achaia where Corinth is an important city even today. The household is mentioned as an example for the church in Corinth.

Today 'manna':

Holiness is about fruit leading to more fruit.

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It is about the first fruit

NORSK
It may seem a little strange to focus on the first fruit after having reflected on the fruit of the Spirit for nearly four weeks. 

When I ask the question: “What is the first fruit?” I only rarely get the ‘correct’ answer. It is a surprise, because the first fruit is the foundation of all fruit bearing, and therefore I can learn something very important by just knowing what it is:

And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first fruit of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free.
Rom 8:23

The fine thing with this “first fruit” is that it is impossible to produce the Holy Spirit. By accepting that as a truth, the standard is set with regard to all the other qualities of the fruit of the Spirit. When it is impossible to produce the source, how can I even think that it is possible for me to produce the product of the source? Such product will only be fake.

That the third person in the Godhead, the Holy Spirit himself, is the first fruit, tells me what is needed to bear fruit. It is the Holy Spirit in me, and I in him that is the only possibility, but that is a great possibility!!!

‘Manna’ for today:

The first fruit sets the standard for growth of fruit

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It is about burning passion

NORSK
When I started training to become an officer in October 1974, the concept of 'passion' connected to the suffering of Christ was new to me. In my mother tongue, we refer to the Calvary story as the “Narrative of Christ’s suffering”. 

The word passion broadened my understanding, because passion describes more than suffering. It describes something that is so important that everything else become subordinate – even if the cost means suffering and death.

I am still reflecting on the subject of holiness and fruit. The pursuit of holiness and fruit was definitely a passion for Paul, and he is literally boundless in his passion:

Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles.
Rom 1:13

There should be many more hindrances for Paul before he finally arrived in Rome. The Holy Spirit warned him against all the suffering that awaited him in Jerusalem (1), but I believe Paul saw that the way to Rome went through Jerusalem. He was passionate to see fruit in Rome, and ready pay the price at any cost.

Several facts suggest that Paul was passionate by nature. His persecution of the Christians before he met Christ on the road to Damascus, confirms this. However, it is beyond doubt that his experience of transformation was the motivation of the ‘new’ passion. Paul’s human nature would have given up under all suffering he had to endure (2).

I know disciples, whose human nature would not be associated with “passion”, but who by the Holy Spirit have been transformed into passionate “fire-torches”.

‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness and fruit bearing presuppose passion

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(1) Acts 19:21 and Acts 21:10-13
(2) 2 Cor 11:23-19

It is about hardship and adversity

NORSK
When Magna last week shared thoughts about her role-models during a holiness-seminar in Ukraine, it was interesting to notice that a common factor was how they live their lives in situations of hardship and adversity. It is in such times that the fruit becomes visible.

The verse I quoted yesterday was about being planted at the right place to be able to bear fruit in the right time. Jeremiah elaborated on this theme, and added some thoughts on the rough times:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jer 17:7-8

When I know where my roots are, I do not need to worry about the rough times.

“The famous preacher D.L. Moody was once asked:
- Moody, do you believe that you have strength and courage to face death for Jesus’ name’s sake?
D.L. Moody, who had led many people to faith in Jesus Christ, had the habit of answering practical and simple, replied:
- No, I do not have this strength today, because today I do not need it. However, if the day should come that I am called to die for my Saviour, I know that he also will give me the strength that I need.
Then he quoted Deuteronomy 33:25 - 'As your days, so shall your strength be'.”

‘Manna’ for today:

It is about knowing that the fruit will come when I need it

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It is about fruit in the right time

NORSK
In a spiritual perspective, it is expected that the fruit-bearing is constant, which means that it should always be possible to find fruit on the ‘tree of life’. It is therefore interesting to read about those who find joy in reading the word of God and ponder upon it day and night, because

They are like a tree replanted by streams of water,
which bears fruit at just the right time
and whose leaves don’t fade.
Psalm 1:3a CEB

I do not think that there is a contradiction between ‘constantly bearing fruit’ and to bear fruit in ‘the right time’. I believe ‘right time’ is about a situation occurring, which will need a ripe fruit with a specific quality.

I have been in many situations where I have asked myself:
“Will I be able to show love?” – “Will I handle this great challenge?”
The answer is simply: “No!”
However, very often the experience has been that the Holy Spirit has given me exactly the fruit I need just at the right time. The fruit has been ripe in the very moment I needed it.

Paul quoted Isaiah in several of his letters, and to the Corinthians he wrote: “I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation” (1). But Paul did not stop with this, he continued:

Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!
2 Cor 6:2

This tells me that there will always be a time that is right for one or the other of the qualities of the Spirit’s fruit. And if I am to bear that fruit, the precondition is that I am ‘like a tree planted by streams of water’.

‘Manna’ for today:

Every day is just the right time to bear the fruit of the Spirit

NB In John 7:6 Jesus said: '...any time is right for you.' (2)
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(1) Isa 49:8
(2) See reflection on this verse (NB in Norwegian only)