April 26, 2023
Dear friends,
You may have heard me make this recommendation in Bible Study a couple of times over the last week, but I want to make it just one more time and put it in writing.
Galatians 5 contains a striking description of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:16-23).
It’s easy to gloss over passages that include laundry lists of vices and virtues. I realize, to my shame, that that comes through when I’m reading them aloud. It’s easy to start reading normally and then to just rattle them all off as though they don’t individually matter. But they do – the evident works of the flesh and the abundant fruits of the Spirit all matter, and they’re just where our attention ought to be as we strive to grow in love.
So here’s my suggestion: pray through those lists.
Start with the works of the flesh: “Lord, keep me from the temptation to sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.“
Some of those may seem rather irrelevant to you. That’s okay. Which ones are relevant? Ask God to give you his Spirit to abstain from those sinful works.
And then take up the fruits of the Spirit: “Lord, teach me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.“
Pray for those things and insist on God’s blessing. He has promised you his Spirit, and he wants you to grow in holiness, so do not let him off the hook. Be persistent and lay hold of God and do not let go until he delivers.
There’s enough work to do there to keep you busy your whole life long, and in the process, you will learn to rely more and more on the mercy of God. After all, if he does not give you these things, you will never obtain them on your own. Praise God that he has given us life by his Spirit. God grant us grace to walk by the Spirit.
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Christian Doctrine – Wednesday, April 26 @ 6pm
Quarterly Voter’s Meeting – Sunday, April 30 @ 11:30am
No Bible Study/Wednesday Evening Service – Wednesday, May 3