Inherit the Wind or the Earth? Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Inherit the Wind or the Earth? ----------------------- Date: 07/17/1999 Keywords: "gentleness” “inheritance" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. eXXit advertises itself as a Web site designed to help you "stand strong in the face of sexual temptation." In Galatians 5:22-23, the apostle Paul lists nine "fruit of the Spirit," fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of the believer. Each of these fruits — if produced — will greatly aid a believer who seeks to "stand strong." At eXXit, we believe that: The fruit of the Spirit is produced in the life of a healthy Christian, just as apples appear on a healthy apple tree. If there is any love or joy or peace in a Christian, it is ultimately the work of God. Christians can cooperate with the Spirit's desire to produce His fruit in their lives by yieldedness, faith, obedience and involvement in ministry. We hope you enjoy and benefit from these meditations on Galatians 5! Send us any feedback. We'd love to know what you think. Passage: Matthew 5:5* Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Question “The survival of the fittest.” That is the first law of our current culture. Jesus contradicts that. According to Him, who wins in the end?   Practical help How does someone who is struggling with an obsession to view Internet porn or engage in sex talk in a chat room find help to resist temptation in knowing that the gentle will inherit the earth? Jesus says that those who appear to be inheriting the earth — the grab-for-the-gusto, take-what-they-want-by-force, be-aggressive-and-win-at-all-costs people — are really on a dead-end street. There is no future in “looking out for number one.” The future belongs to those who don’t grasp but trust God to declare the winner at the end. Sure, following that path involves some pain along the way, some self-denial, saying “no” to instant gratification. But, if the one who inherits the earth at the end is the one who entrusts himself to God, doesn’t it make more sense to follow that path? Far better to walk the path of delayed gratification and trust God to meet all needs, exalt as appropriate and bless as He sees fit. The Bible calls this way of living gentleness and assures us that it is the way to inherit the earth. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 1999 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."