Healthy spiritual fruit!
Scripture reading for August 21: Galatians 5
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:18-24
According to Paul, there is a spiritual battle between our human flesh and the Spirit-led life. Human flesh wants to do works and earn or achieve what we want, no matter what our conscience or God’s Word has said. The works of the flesh are evident to all, especially those who are under God’s law and conscience. We know that God has decreed no adultery or immorality to include all kinds of sexual perversions. Violence, murder, fits of anger and all factions and divisions are also warned against. Pride, envy and jealousy are specifically called out as works of the flesh. The law of God warns us that those who do things like these will die and not inherit God’s kingdom.
But God has provided a remedy to those caught in bondage to the flesh and its works of death. He has provided His Holy Spirit to lead us as His children in the fruits of His Spirit. God is love! Love heads the list of character traits growing as we are led by God’s Spirit. Love leads to joy and peace with God and man, overcoming the works of the flesh. We become patient and kind and gentle even to those who violently oppose us. We know that it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance and so we are good, reflecting our Father. (Romans 2:4) We develop habits of faithfulness and self control and reflect God. Through the Spirit, we crucify the works of the flesh and its passions and selfish desires.
Can you describe a time in your life where you experienced the conflict between the desires of your flesh and the Holy Spirit seeking to produce fruit in your life? How is the cross of Jesus Christ a place of victory in this battle against the flesh? What fruits of the Holy Spirit is God wanting to develop in your life today?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit Who is leading me daily. Fill me with the Spirit today and help me to put to death the works of my human flesh. Let my life be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Develop the slow-growing fruit of patience and self-control that I often lack. Amen.
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