This
Week’s Memory Verse:
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of
fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these
things! Galatians 5:22-23
Paul was
speaking to the church at Galatia, which is a region in north central Asia
Minor settled by the Gauls or Celtic people in about 3 BC. This area is now in
modern Turkey, near Ankara. Throughout the book of Galatians Paul was teaching
that sinful man can’t be sanctified…made right with God who is pure…on his own.
It must be a work of God Himself. Salvation is by God’s grace
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then
you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to
do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit
gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These
two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out
your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not
under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your
sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful
pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties,
and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone
living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy
Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law
against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the
passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them
there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's
leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one
another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:16-26
This is powerful. Nail your passions to the
cross…and let them be crucified there. Jesus died on the cross for those very
sins. He gave up His life, His purity, so that our ugly sinfulness could be
crucified on His cross…and we can now be pure. Totally pure so that we can
stand before our pure Heavenly Father. No sin can be in His midst. That is what
the plan of salvation is all about. Our sins willingly crucified with Christ
makes us pure, righteous and children of God—now capable of standing in the
presence of our Holy God…our Heavenly Father. What an amazing gift that we have
been given! There is nothing we can do to earn this salvation. God gives it to
us.
Will you…or have you…accepted this gift of
salvation? Will you share this concept with others?
Prayer
~ Lord Jesus, Thank You seems hardly enough for the gift of salvation that You
have given to me. Thank You for taking my sins…my very sinful nature…to the
cross where it was crucified with You. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your fruits of
the Spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. May they overflow in my life and give God the honor,
praise and glory.
Daily
Bible Reading: Proverbs 25-26
© 2019 Text and
painting by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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