Guided By the Spirit

The Spirit Comes
Woven together in Love

The Greatest Gift of Love

Galatians 5:19-26  The Message

^19-21 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-yet-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.

This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.
^22-23 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. 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. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
^23-24 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
^25-26 Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

 

For Reflection 

Say "Good by" to self-centeredness.  Say "Hello" to God-centeredness.  God doesn't punish the self-centered, they punish themselves.  Their punishment is a direct result of their self-centered word and deed.  God doesn't wave a magic wand and "poof" we are rewarded for good behavior.  Our salvation is a result of our God-centered word and deed.

So, live a creative God-centered life and reject a destructive self-centered life.  Live the life God has given you; a life like no other, a life that fits you comfortably, a life full of grace.

Pray

prayers of thanksgiving for the life God has given to you.  Pray that you will use your unique gifts for the glory of God.  Pray that you will live a creative life and lead others to grace.