Inspired by the LGG STUDY, The Fruit of the Spirit, W6/D5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
– Galatians 5:22-23
We cannot serve the flesh and God, for we belong to one or the other. For, as Paul wrote to the Galatians, the two (the flesh and the Spirit) are in opposition to each other
When we are distracted by sin, it isn’t because we belong to the devil – but because we have deviated from who we are in Christ. (Bibleref.com)
When we compare/contrast the works (or fruit) of the flesh versus the works (or fruit) of the Spirit, we find that one (the fruit of the flesh) leads to a whole list of undesirable traits that, according to Scripture, lead to death. The other, and far more desirable, is the fruit of God’s Spirit, which leads not only to life but to peace (Romans 8:6).
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Romans 8:6
The Works of the Flesh
SEXUAL IMMORALITY
IMPURITY
DEPRAVITY
IDOLATRY
SORCERY
HOSTILITIES
STRIFE
JEALOUSY
ANGER
SELFISH RIVALRIES
DISSENSIONS
FACTIONS
~ VS ~
The Work of the Spirit
LOVE
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE
KINDNESS
GOODNESS
FAITHFULNESS
GENTLENESS
SELF-CONTROL
At the end of the comparison, Paul leaves us with this encouragement, and ultimately a decision to make: If you’re going to live by the Spirit, then keep in step with the Spirit. Believers, those who belong to Christ, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This means they are now living by the Spirit and should keep in step with (a.k.a. behave according to) the Spirit.
Friends, we cannot pick and choose qualities/characteristics from these lists; it is one or the other (the flesh or the Spirit). As Joshua warned/encouraged the people in his day, “…if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve….as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.“ Paul encourages us as believers: “Choose today whom you will serve, the flesh or the Spirit. ~ Oh, friends, may our answer be a loud and resounding: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And may His fruit grow and abound in us.
Reflection and Application
I leave you with these thoughts from today’s LGG Journal to reflect on:
We made it, sweet friend. We started this study at the feet of Jesus, watching Mary pour out everything she had in an act of extravagant, wholehearted love. And now, six weeks later, we end here in Galatians 5, standing in the fullness of everything God has been growing in us all along.
Read the list of the fruit of the Spirit slowly. It is not a checklist of things you need to achieve. It is a portrait of who you are becoming as you walk in step with the Holy Spirit. It is the character of Jesus Himself being formed in you, one surrendered day at a time.
Think about where this study has taken you. You have sat with Mary and learned what love looks like when it holds nothing back. You have stood in a prison cell with Paul and Silas and discovered that joy and peace don’t depend on your circumstances. You have walked with Joseph through the pit and the prison and learned that patience and kindness are forged in the fire of trust. You have followed Ruth into an uncertain future and seen that goodness and faithfulness leave a mark that outlasts anything this world can offer. You have learned from Moses that gentleness is not weakness but surrendered strength. And you have stood with Daniel in Babylon and discovered that self- control begins with a single, courageous, Spirit-rooted decision of the heart.
Paul tells us that since we live by the Spirit, we should keep in step with the Spirit. Stay close to Jesus. Keep walking with Him. Keep surrendering to Him.
This is the life God has called you to. It is not a perfect life or an easy life, but it is a fruitful one. You are loved by a God who is growing something breathtakingly beautiful in your life. His fruit in you is lasting and life-giving1
- The LGG Digital Journal, The Fruit of the Spirit, p 187 ↩︎
