But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives,
much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—
things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.
We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart,
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.
We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force out way in life,
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message)
able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message)
As I write this, Valentine’s Day weekend is approaching. People everywhere are searching for some romantic gift, some loving experience. We all want that special someone to know how much we love them, and we look forward to their expression of devotion in return. But sometimes people get caught up in living for themselves. All their work, all their thoughts, everything, serves their own interest and seeks out their own way all the time.
This stuff got discussed in the Bible all the time. Paul had a phrase to describe it. He called it, “Living by the flesh.” And he also described what it was like to live that way. Here is how Eugene Peterson paraphrases things in The Message: “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all consuming but never satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.” Galatians 5:19-21
Do I really have to explain why that is no way to live? I didn’t think so. But in contrast, Paul spoke of life lived God’s way. He described the good life which bears fruit for God. That kind of life fills the days and the years with joy, and gives meaning to the special events we celebrate, like Valentine’s Day. If that was the only day the person we cared about ever told us we were special, it wouldn’t mean very much, would it? A full life, however, lived God’s way, bears fruit not only for God but for the people with whom we share life. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of a life guided and filled by the Spirit. The traditional version of that list reads like the best result of our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When others look back at your life, let that be what they see.
In Christ,
Michael
This stuff got discussed in the Bible all the time. Paul had a phrase to describe it. He called it, “Living by the flesh.” And he also described what it was like to live that way. Here is how Eugene Peterson paraphrases things in The Message: “It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all consuming but never satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.” Galatians 5:19-21
Do I really have to explain why that is no way to live? I didn’t think so. But in contrast, Paul spoke of life lived God’s way. He described the good life which bears fruit for God. That kind of life fills the days and the years with joy, and gives meaning to the special events we celebrate, like Valentine’s Day. If that was the only day the person we cared about ever told us we were special, it wouldn’t mean very much, would it? A full life, however, lived God’s way, bears fruit not only for God but for the people with whom we share life. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of a life guided and filled by the Spirit. The traditional version of that list reads like the best result of our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When others look back at your life, let that be what they see.
In Christ,
Michael
