But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
We learned in our Bible study together yesterday that when it comes to the goals we set and the ways we want to grow, we are not left alone in our endeavors to meet them in our own power. In fact, if we try to meet our goals and grow in ways we need to grow in our own power, we will fall short. Praise God that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, who helps us grow and gives us strength that we do not have on our own!
The apostle Paul reveals how the Holy Spirit helps us take steps to grow when we place our faith in Christ in Galatians 5. In this passage of Scripture, He wrote about our lives before Christ. Before Christ, he explained we lived according to our sinful nature, giving in to “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these” (verses 19-21). All of these things reflect our lives before following Christ. When we place our faith in Christ, Paul revealed, “the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (verses 22-23). When we follow Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us become like Christ by developing Christ-like traits. These traits, particularly patience and self-control, help us to grow and have the endurance to form habits that bring honor to God.
What a gift we have in the Holy Spirit, who transforms us from the inside out and helps us live lives that reflect our good God. Praise God that we are not left alone in our desires to grow and become more like Christ. What a gift we have in the Holy Spirit, who walks alongside us in this life and changes us so that we reflect our God, whom we love so much.
Write a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who helps us grow and live lives that honor Him. Thank Him that the Holy Spirit equips us and helps us take steps to walk in the direction of Him.
Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
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