Galatians 5:22-23 These are the nine fruit of the spirit. We’ll be spending the next weeks focusing on each one to gain a greater understanding so that we can live these out. In fact, these nine fruit are to be our normal behavior because God’s spirit is living in us.
Galatians 5:16-17 We have a war going on within us. On the one hand, our flesh inspires selfish desires opposed to God; on the other, God’s spirit motivates godly behavior.
Galatians 5:18 The law can cause our flesh to rebel, but God’s spirit sets us free from that trap.
Galatians 5:19-23 If you want to slay the dragon of strife, you need kindness; if you want to defeat anger, you need gentleness; if you want to conquer divisiveness, you need faithfulness; if you want to overcome sexual sin, you need genuine godly love; if you fall prey to drunkenness, you need self-control. The fruits of the spirit squeeze out the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13-16 Today, our focus is on love. This is such an important mindset and behavior for us to cultivate in our lives. In fact, Jesus taught that loving God and others is the most important commandment in the whole Bible (Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
1 Corinthians 13 contains a love poem that tells us “love never ends” (v8). Even though prophecy will pass away, tongues will cease, and miraculous insight will stop, love is forever. It’s better than faith and hope. “The greatest of these is love” (v13). Love is a big deal!
Galatians 2:20 The chief way Paul grounds his understanding of love is God’s extravagant expression of love in giving His only Son to set us free. This is home base.
Galatians 5:13-16 The emphasis here is on loving one another rather than treating each other harshly. How are you doing on this? Do you love your neighbor as yourself?
0 Comments