How do you know you’re on the right track with your faith?

After all, we SAY we believe in Jesus, but are we LIVING like it?

When you read through the New Testament, one of the ways you can tell you’re on the right track is if you’re showing evidence of God’s presence in your life.

The biblical language is “producing fruit.” If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters into you in a new way and goes to work.

The most frequently cited passage about this is Galatians 5:22-23 which speaks about the fruit of the Spirit. The behaviours and characteristics listed are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Are you starting to see those at work in your life?

Some may appear more slowly than others. And they may not all grow at the same speeds. And sometimes there are set backs…

But inevitably, growth will occur.

A respected Bible scholar named N.T. Wright says: “salvation only does become what it’s meant to do when those who have been saved, are being saved, and will one day fully be saved realize that they are saved not as souls but as wholes and not for themselves alone but for what God now longs to do through them.”*

It’s a reminder that God enters into relationship with us not only to get us from earth to heaven, but to get heaven to earth through us.

None of us are perfect. We make mistakes… daily! And it needs to be stressed that what makes us right and acceptable to God is definitely not how morally well we perform in life.

But we can receive the encouragement that we’re on the right track with our faith when we see—by God’s grace and great patience—that we are showing evidence (however fragmentary) of his presence in our lives.

It’s not about being dramatic; it’s about being faithful.

Be encouraged. God’s work through you is evidence of God’s presence in you.

By Matthew Ruttan

—Please note that after Friday, February 1, “Up!” will go on pause until April 22nd. I know, it’s a long time! But after three full years of daily devotionals I’m taking a much-needed rest. Back issues are all available at www.TheUpDevo.com.

—The full MANUSCRIPT to my recent ‘Heaven and Hell’ teaching series is now available for free download. You can do so here.

—* This quote is from Wright’s book, Surprised by Hope.