Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Fruitful Christian Living

Galatians 5:16-26

Key Bible Verse: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5: 22-23)
    

“A man can take himself out of the fight, but he can't take the fight out of himself.” Paul’s letter to the Galatians delves into the internal battle every Christian fight: a battle between the Spirit and the flesh. “Flesh” is defined as the fallen, sinful nature of human beings that includes vices such as pride and self-righteousness, to name a few. Despite having been saved from the bondage of sin through Christ’s death, we still return to the weak affections of the flesh. It can be misunderstood that this battle with sin is an indication that there is something wrong with one’s spiritual life. On the contrary, a Christian is also prone sinful desires but is constantly at war with them. Therefore, it is this very battle with sin that establishes one as being a Christian. 

Paul establishes that the Spirit and the flesh cannot coexist; they are incompatible. He contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruits of the Spirit in verses 19-23, calling us to set ourselves apart from earthly desires. Jesus Christ serves as the most outstanding example of someone who embodies the fruits of the Spirit. He died for those who killed him (love), found pleasure in suffering for God’s purpose (joy), and bridged the gap between Man and God through his crucifixion (peace). He served God’s mission for 33 years by willingly taking on flesh (forbearance) and showed kindness to those with physical and spiritual needs (kindness, goodness, and gentleness). Even at the height of his despair, he looked to the Heavenly Father and cried “...yet not my will, but yours be done” (faithfulness and self-control). 

The fruits of the Spirit do not result as rewards from doing good deeds or being disciplined and it does not arise from our own effort. To win the war against flesh and produce the fruits of the Spirit, we must walk with the Holy Spirit. Jesus says in John 15, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” 

To “keep in step with the Spirit” is in the present tense in Verse 25, indicating that this walk is a continuous action from the moment we commit ourselves to Christ. In order to produce the fruits of the spirit, we must choose to struggle with our sinful nature every day. We must actively decide to walk with the Spirit and surrender ourselves to be led by the Spirit. As Luke 9:23 states, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus daily. Our faith allows the Spirit to cultivate fruits that let us live the victorious life ensured by Christ’s death and resurrection. Thus, let us seek to abide in the Spirit by drawing closer to God’s presence through prayer and reading of His Word. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, let us be strengthened by your power to lead a life of discernment and courage and shed off the chains of earthly passions. Amen. 

Thought for the Day: “A true Christian is known not only for his inner peace but his inner warfare.” - JC Ryle

Julia Jinu
              Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, New York

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more