Wednesday, April 12, 2017

No Law Against Such Things

"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. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." - Galatians 5:22-26 ESV

There is 'no law against such things' that is for sure with God. We don't strive to have them and there is no law against them.

Perhaps we have all seen (or even been) the person who gets a victory over a bad habit and then becomes this crusader of 'making good decisions'. We become conceited in our victory when it was really the fruit of the Spirit and some crucified flesh. God did something that we had the privilege of participating in but can claim no glory for... but we do and perhaps it creates envy in others.

I revel this morning in the effortlessness of the fruit of the Spirit and that my reckoning of belonging to Christ serves to crucify my flesh. Crucifixion is a past tense thing for someone who belongs to Christ.

God is not stopping or regulating love, joy and peace this morning. He isn't saying, 'You can only love in these circumstances.' or 'Please limit your peace to when these things happen.'

...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...

Thank you God. We don't want to limit or take credit for these things. You produce them freely. You get the glory for them if we have them. You are the mighty God and your Gospel is seed that grows up into this fruit. Thank You God. We belong to you. You purchased us with precious blood and knowing that moves our fleshly desires into the category of 'crucified'.

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