This Week's Devotional | 2004 Devotionals | 2005 Devotionals

Devotional For the Week 13th December 2004

Gems from Galatians
Scriptural text: Galatians 5

Whether we have been Christians for a short or long time, how many of us can honestly say of our Christian lives, ‘We are completely free!’?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. (5:1a)

Christ came to set us free from sin and the law. What this means is NOT that we are free to do whatever we want, because that will ironically cause us to be continually enslaved to our old, selfish ways. But we ARE free to live unselfishly - within the new, liberating control of the Holy Spirit.

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (5:1b)

‘Stand firm’ is an imperative, a call to act on being committed to staying free in Christ all the time. Soldiers do not relax on their watch, relishing in their last victory. Likewise we do not rest on our past spiritual victories. Whether we were walking well with the Lord the year before or the previous week, that does not determine our spiritual condition for today. We stay focused on not only enjoying our freedom in Christ, but keeping it, by being alert and faithful in the things of God.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (5:16-17)

Were you tempted in the following lately: being critical of someone or talked behind his back? getting enraged over your children or your colleagues? feeling envious of someone’s looks, possessions or social position? entertained sexually immoral thoughts? amongst other worldly inclinations.

Satan looks for any opportunity to trip us over. The forces of sin wage wars against our lives at every possible moment of a day. Yet we can opt for a way out other than succumbing to them. Paul reiterates with the phrase, “So I say” – we are to live by the Spirit, and then, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. There is no compromise to obtaining a life of freedom - it's one or the other.

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. (5:22-23)

[NIV Life Application Notes] The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control – we can’t obtain them by trying to get them, without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His (John 15:4-5). We must know Him, love Him, remember Him and imitate Him. As a result we will fulfil the intended purpose of the law – to love God and our neighbours.

Won’t you do that today?

---