God has called us to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. From these two symbols, we can see ourselves as instruments meant to bring clarity, freshness, and goodness to the world. The way to do this has been clearly laid out in the fruit of the Spirit, which calls us to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
God has given us these fruits freely, but it is our responsibility to partake of them consistently so that we may be nourished and grow. To “eat” of these fruits means to practice these character traits intentionally and regularly. We must train ourselves. You do not wake up one day and immediately decide to jog twelve miles daily. Instead, you begin with a conscious decision to jog half a mile and gradually increase the distance until you reach your goal.
I remember when I was learning to speak Spanish. It wasn’t easy. I had to push myself to watch movies in Spanish, listen to songs in Spanish, write my diary and daily schedule in Spanish, identify objects in my surroundings in Spanish, communicate, and even think in Spanish, until it became part of me. I am still striving for fluency, but through consistency, conversing in Spanish has become easier and almost second nature.
In the same way, changing one’s character requires a conscious effort to practice the godly character you desire and to persist in it until it becomes part of you. Eventually, you no longer have to think too hard before acting, because your subconscious, your inner man, already knows the right way to respond. Think about how you drive or walk home daily. Even after moving to a new address, you might still find yourself heading toward your old home because your mind has already registered that route as “home.”
Therefore, the challenge is to choose one fruit of the Spirit and practice it daily or even monthly, until it becomes deeply rooted in you, so that showing love, patience, or kindness flows naturally.
Can God vouch for you? Can people vouch for you? Can you be identified as someone who consistently does what is right? When pandemics occur, such as COVID-19, we often ask God to single us out and count us worthy to escape calamity. But why should He, if we have not first singled ourselves out by shining as lights in the world?
Do not misunderstand—God is merciful and able to save His children from anything. Yet Scripture reminds us that the world is moving toward its end, and there will be a clear separation between light and darkness. The Lord will send His angels to mark His saints. Will you be recognised by the light you shine so brightly, or will your lamp be dim, like that of the foolish virgins whose light ran out?
Stand for God. Stand out. And by His mercy, be found worthy of the Lord’s mark in the days to come.
