Freedom and Fruit

In the early ‘90s, I sang with a country music group called Crystal River. We did a monthly 2-hour music show. There were 8 of us and our group numbers together required us to dance during each number. Well, this guy had two left feet and it was hard for me to learn to keep in step with everyone. I did it with lots of practice but it took great effort on my part.

Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25 to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Chapter 5 is all about Paul contrasting several things as he reminds followers of Christ to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit of God.

Paul consistently tells us it is not about how much work you do but it’s the work of Jesus on the cross that makes us right with God. He says in verse 6, “What counts is faith expressing itself through love”. Paul knows a false gospel has been introduced to the church. It’s a gospel that says you need Jesus but you also have the keep the Law. In other words, Jesus is important but keep checking boxes and doing things or God will never be happy with you.

All through Galatians 5, Paul tells us what the real gospel is all about. It’s about what Jesus has done, not about what you do that makes you right with God. He reminds us that the Spirit is greater than the flesh. I often think about the persecution the early followers experienced. The battle that must have gone on internally was no doubt incredibly tense. Most of them had to decide to follow Jesus and die or cave to the fleshly desire to live and walk away from Jesus.

See, our flesh is concerned with performance and presentation. The Law of the flesh says that we want to be seen, honored, respected, and admired. We selfishly pursue those things that will give credit to our sinful nature. We live in this performance-based world and we tend to carry that mentality into our spiritual life.

But the Spirit is concerned with changing our hearts. The Spirit of God wants to move us from hate to love, from a depressed state to one of joy; from chaos to peaceful living, from a non-compassionate spirit to one of kindness; from corrupt living to living the goodness of God; from being untrustworthy to being faithful; from having a heart full of anger to having one of gentleness; from having a short temper to being a person of patience; from being nomadic to being self-controlled.

Paul boils down how to know if you’re keeping in step with flesh or with the Spirit. He lists how we live into our fleshly desires by giving us 15 different ways of living that are not of God. He says, if it’s evident your life has in it “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties…”, you are living into your fleshly desires. Paul goes on to say if the above represents your life, you will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But then reminds us that we are called to live like Jesus by listing the fruit of the Spirit which are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Paul says we should live this way in abundance every day. It’s then we look like Jesus and are in step with the Spirit.

If you’re brave, you’ll ask someone you love and respect how your life looks. Does it look like your following a selfish path or one that your characteristics look more like the Jesus way? My hope is you’re brave enough to incorporate the fruit of the Spirit in your life…that you are keeping in step with the Spirit. With freedom in Christ, you have all the tools you need to become more like our savior everyday. You no longer have to abide by the desire of the flesh. Embrace Jesus and keep in step with the Spirit. Blessings on your journey.

Lists!

Lists....I will admit that I love a list.  A list keeps me grounded, disciplined and helps to remind me of responsibilities and events on the horizon.  Grocery lists, Christmas card lists, household to-do lists... I always have a list or two in the works.  Whether your lists are on a smartphone, iPad, laptop or just stuck on the front of your refrigerator (old school style), they work to remind us that something needs our attention!  We read, process and prioritize, and then work that task into our lives. 

Paul felt the church in Galatia needed the same type of reminder list.  In his letter to the church , Paul is frustrated and disappointed with the path that the church has taken.  He wants to see them get back on track with the work that he started when he last visited.  Paul states in chapter 5: 7, "You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"  Like us, when faced with uncertainty and too many choices of our own making, they faltered.  The church had become susceptible to agitators and too many outside influences.  In Chapter 5 of his letter, Paul warns them against biting and devouring each other and indulging in obvious sinful nature.   I like the choice of the word "obvious."  In other words, they know it is sinful behavior and not from God.  Paul then gives a list of the sinful natures in verses 19 through 21, which includes about every form of the worst part of our human nature, including fits of rage, discord, hatred, sexual impurities, factions and the list goes on.  Obviously, this was a Not-To-Do list!!!! 

These acts move us away from a relationship with God and keep us from having loving relationships with each other.  By contrast, Paul gives us, and the church, a list of practices and attributes that God would have us use in our daily lives.  In Chapter 5: 22-23, he names the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  These are from the Spirit and will draw us closer in relationship to God and with each other. 

There is no law, Jewish or Gentile, against such practices.  God offers a harvest of plenty when we cultivate and follow the fruit of the Spirit.  Our witness to the world is evident when we follow this to-do list that Paul shares with the church in Galatia. 

This list shows us how to treat each other, show our love for our neighbor and stay in fellowship with God.  Love each other.  Spread Joy with your daily attitude of thanksgiving.  Surround yourself with a presence of Peace.  Have Patience with the things of the world which frustrate you.  Be Kind to everyone.  Show Goodness in your actions.  Hold onto a Faithfulness that God is in control and knows our every need.  Have a nature of Gentleness when caring for each other.  Practice Self Control in your words and actions. 

Keep this reminder list on your heart as we continue to walk together in step with the Spirit. Allow the Spirit to influence your daily life so we represent Jesus well. And don’t get frustrated when you drop the ball. We are a work in progress. We are free in Christ. Blessings on the journey.