There is a difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh.
I agree.
I can spend my whole life working at what I think Jesus wants me to do. That is works of the flesh. works of the flesh are not always sinful.
For a long time I thought that to experience success in my Christian life, I had to work harder. But I discovered that the key to enjoying success is not strenuous work, but spiritual rest.
A good synonym for flesh may be self-sufficiency.
We sometimes try to live for Him when He wants to live His life through us.
When Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha in their home at Bethany, Mary sat down at the feet of Jesus and listened intently to every word He spoke.
Martha was busy doing things in the home to make His visit more enjoyable. Whether she was cooking or preparing His room, she felt uptight because company was in the house and she wanted to be a good hostess.
As she hurried around, she couldn’t help but notice Mary sitting there talking while she was doing all the work.
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:40-42).
Luke says that Martha was “distracted.” Distracted from what? From Jesus! What was it that caused her attention to be distracted from Jesus? You got it— serving Him! In the flesh and not in his spirit.
Fruit of the Spirit comes from resting in the Spirit and letting Jesus live through me. He will give me desire to do things with the strength, and wisdom to do them.
Kefa