KEEP IN STEP

Image result for clip art showing in step    Paul concludes chapter 5 of Galatians with the command: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another." 

At our salvation, God placed within each of us, the Holy Spirit.  He lives within us to teach, to guide, to reveal Truth to us, to empower us to live as a Christ follower, and to illumine the Truths of God's Word that we might understand and be willing to walk out in our daily lives IN ALIGNMENT TO THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD. 

I well recognize my behavior which is contrary to the Spirit of God because it is very obvious and in chapter 5, Paul names the contrary behavior:  "sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, fractions, envy, drunkeness, orgies, and the like."  Thank you Lord God, that all of our sins are nailed to Calvary, and we too died with You to them.  They no longer have dominion over us.  These behaviors are NOT in step with the Spirit of God. No longer are we slaves to sin, for sin does not have dominion over us by the powerful action of the Lord Jesus on Calvary.  

To be sure that we understand what keeping in step with the Spirit "looks like", Paul assures us that the following are the behaviors, the fruit that the Spirit is ABLE to produce in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   I don't know about you, but I can recognize I must do some growing and yielding to the Holy Spirit in several areas of fruit production.  Paul reminds me that I reap what I sow and that I not get tired and weary of doing good because at His timing, I will reap a harvest if I do not give up.  Lord, I do desire a harvest to Your glory and for Your kingdom.  I humble myself under Your mighty hand to reap what I have sown.  Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.  
  

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LAST THOUGHT ON LEVITICUS

Image
  For the first time in many years, I have enjoyed reading through Leviticus.  I have skipped it several times and read on.  This go round, I have sought to focus on some thoughts, words, phrases, or practices that God had instituted for the Israelites and their physical and spiritual well-being.  The Ten Commandments and many of the laws have real practical value for society and the Christ follower today.  The Lord God gave them a standard, a commandment, which is applicable for today, "You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord (Jehovah) your God (Elohim).  Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.  I am the LORD."  Leviticus 18:4-5   My concluding thought from Leviticus is this admonition or commandment:  " You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."  Leviticus 20:26.  Even though spoken to Israel, the truth of being holy is directe
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more