Okay, you have a choice to make. Here are two lists of characteristics for you to choose from:
List A:
- committing sexual sin
- being morally bad
- doing all kinds of shameful things
- worshiping false gods
- taking part in witchcraft
- hating people
- causing trouble
- being jealous
- angry or selfish
- causing people to argue and divide into separate groups
- being filled with envy
- getting drunk
- having wild parties
- doing other things like this
List B:
- love
- joy
- peace
- patience
- kindness
- goodness
- faithfulness
- gentleness
- self-control
Some may say, “Yes! List A sounds a lot more fun! Let’s do this!” Others may say, “I have no time in my life for List A. I’ll choose List B. I feel better just reading that list.”
Well, according to Galatians 5:19-21, List A consists of “The wrong things the sinful self does.” Umm, did you get that? That list is full of “wrong things”. That is a list of “sinful self” that only leads to destruction. Sorry. If you made that choice, you lose. Really! God wins in the end, so if you choose to live that life, you are, let’s be honest… a loser.
“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is…” is List B. We read these characteristics in Galatians 5:22-24. When we choose to live God’s way, He blesses us with physiognomies. (Oh my! I couldn’t resist that word. When I clicked to find a synonym for characteristics that word appeared. I looked it up and HAD to use it. I feel intellectual now. You know you want to use it this week. Okay, carry on.)
Let’s have another “LBH” (let’s be honest) moment. When I (me, myself) look at List A, I can check off, hummmm, most of the characteristics and admit that at one point (or more) in my life, I had displayed those physiognomies. Ugh! This does NOT please God. It makes me sad just thinking about the numerous times I’m disappointed God.
What do I strive for in my life now? List A. I am happy to say that I feel confident that God has produced those characteristics in me. I will continue to strive to rid any “sinful self” features from my life and live a life full of abundance of God’s grace and love.
The Message translation puts verse 22-24 this way:
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.”
I hope you are choosing to live “God’s way” and nailing your “sinful self” to the cross. Don’t let List A get in the way of living life more abundant and free. Allow God to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in you.
Blessings to you.
October 1, “Walking in the Word”