Have you ever been in the grocery store and you come across a can with no label? This can may be the last one sitting in the spot where the ingredient you need is to be. Now what? Without the picture and colorful lettering, how can you know what's inside?
Would you still buy it and hope for the best? This is a big important dinner, are you able to take that risk? Without the label whatever is inside is concealed, whether good or bad. Could this analogy be true for those who follow Jesus?
Paul tells us that when the Holy Spirit is truly alive and at work within a person, others will know. The good work that is happening within them pours out in the way they live. Their lives become the labels, but rather than diced tomatoes, green beans, etc. their label says, "peace," "faithfulness," "self-control,” “praise.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
“(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),” (Ephesians 5:9)
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)
This is the work of the Holy Spirit inside those who are born again. The transformation He does will become evident in their lives as they are made to be more and more like Jesus!
Is this true in your life? What does your label say to others? Would they know what they’re getting or would it be a risk?
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:20)
"For your very lives are our “letters of recommendation,” permanently engraved on our hearts, recognized and read by everybody. As a result of our ministry, you are living letters written by Christ, not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God—not carved onto stone tablets but on the tablets of tender hearts." (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)