17For 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.
Galatians 5:17
I’ve been a Christian for a while, and although I get some pretty amazing things from the Lord from time to time that minister so deeply to me, it’s only beginning to hit me how absolutely wonderful and beautiful holiness (God’s wholeness that so deeply heal and bring us His spiritually rich and abundant Life) and righteousness (God’s right ways and paths of living that lead to True Life) are. I was thinking about a balance sheet in relation to the contrast between Holy/Righteous and Unholy/Unrighteous living. While the lists are not nearly exhaustive – because of God’s infinite character – below is what came to mind.
Wow, and to think that Jesus came to give me Life and then faced death on the cross to make sure I’d have the chance to know Him so He could help me get set free from everything that’s troubled me in my life. What Love.
Holy/Righteous Living
To begin with, His forgiveness for all my sins, I’m redeemed!
He gave me the desire to want to repent and follow Him
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness (kindness), goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self control) – the chance to have these amazing, supernatural traits of the Holy Spirit operating in my life
The realization that Romans 8:28 is really living in me
The gift of learning how to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ – Wow
Cares and burdens cast onto Christ – Amazing
Healed and thriving marriage
His provision
His promise to never leave me nor forsake me
Discernment
Compassion
Boldness in the face of darkness
Forgiving
Security
Free to love others
Courage to follow Jesus no matter what
Sound mind that learns I can trust Him always
The joy, peace, rest and freedom that come by taking thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ, praising and thanking Him in all things, and believing that He’s really working all things together for my good, and applying the rest of God’s Word to our lives to give us His abundant life.
Unholy/Unrighteous Living
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, 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. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Care and burdensome life with no chance of God’s deliverance
And so much more of the lies, and wicked and evil deeds of darkness that keep us enslaved to sin and seek to steal, kill and destroy us.
What a contrast.
God sets life (holiness and righteousness) and death (unholiness and unrighteousness) before you and me every single day . Then, He tells us to choose Life. This is why, no matter how I mess up or what comes my way, I make the attempt every day to choose Christ, to choose Life. God knows it’s the only decision that makes any sense. It’s why He sent Jesus and why He gave us His directions, His Word.
Along with me, pray that the precious Holy Spirit will make you desire His holiness and righteousness. He’ll freely give us His infinite, abundant Life that’s so rich and free.
Thanking and praising God in all things,
Mark
Note: While we may not agree with everything a particular church or Christian group teaches or believes, there are times when we can be blessed by something outside the realm of our current understanding of God.