God’s so attentive and faithful to help us monitor our hearts so we’re kept safe from care and worry, to maintain our love and peace.
Lately, I’ve been around some folks who are pretty worried about one thing or another. I don’t know how people can live with such worry, strife and stress. But, then I remember that I was the same way before Jesus began to show me how I could be set free from strife, care and worry, and that He would show me, really show me in my heart, that He’s working all things together for my good. Truly, I don’t know what I’d do without Jesus in my life. He’s totally changing me for the good. He really does keep His covenant with those who have asked Him into their heart.
One link about Galatians 5 was titled “The Obvious Works Of The Flesh And Fruit Of The Spirit.” In other words, God is telling us how to discern if someone is living for their flesh or living for Jesus.
In verses 17-21 below, we see the evidence of someone choosing to live after their flesh. It’s not pretty and will eventually lead to eternal separation from God.
On the other hand, verses 21-26 portray the blessed fruit of the Spirit of God as a person seeks after God and denies their flesh. This person will live with God forever in Heaven and will reap the benefits of the fruit of the Spirit operating in their life while on earth.
The comparison between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit is pretty obvious. In Matthew 7:16-20, the Bible tells us “you’ll know them (people) by their fruit.”
I love how the Lord points these lessons out to us. It helps to keep me lined up with the fruit of the Spirit, with seeking God with my whole heart, and to not let any works of the flesh deceive me. For instance, if I begin to lose my peace, or any of the other fruit of the Spirit, I pray and ask the Father to help me get back on track with Him. In other words, I repent and begin, again, seeking Him and His Kingdom with my whole heart. He’s so faithful to answer that prayer. ☺
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Keith Green – How can they live without Jesus? How can live without God’s love? How can they feel so at home down here when there’s so much more up above…
God bless,
Mark