Making Connections in Behavior

I am always amazed when I hear people say that they don't read and/or believe the Bible because it has no relevance to their lives. I am constantly reminded that our God is timeless when I open the Word and read through scripture. I have no problem making continuous connections to my own life.

One of the most explicit examples of this connection is in Galatians where Paul is telling us that we need to live by the Spirit. He doesn't just leave it there but gives us very specific examples of what to do AND what not to do.

Galatians 5:16-26 - NIV (http://www.biblegateway.com)

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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

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. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Each of the things listed as fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) are things that are involved in our daily lives. I find the line following the list incredibly relevant, "Against such things there is no law." This is completely true of our government today. Our justice system is set up to protect and promote these fruit.

Paul also gives us a specific list of the things that will keep us away from God and therefore come between ourselves and heaven. He lists: "sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." Although there are not laws against all of these things, they are seen as incorrect and bad in our society today. Impurity and debauchery (corruption) are thing that are running rampant. I find it interesting that dissensions and factions are on this list. I had never thought about the back-stabbing and clicks that form in our adolescence and sadly, sometimes in adulthood as being something that is listed as bad in the Bible. But there they are. Jealousy and selfishness are things that every person can work on.

I could spend months discussing the relevance of each of the things (good and bad) listed in this tiny passage out of The New Testament to the lives of Christians today. Whether you are someone who feels that reading the Bible is irrelevant to your life or someone who believes in the power of the Word I challenge you to spend a little time this week with this passage.

Are you gathering fruit? Building walls between you and God?

What good things to concentrate on each day.

Give it Up to God!!

Sitting in church a couple weeks ago I noticed in the announcements that the women's reading group/Bible study that I used to attend was starting a new book. It just so happens that due to some unexpected changes in my schedule that my schedule is newly free at the time that they meet. God shook me that day in church and I knew that I needed to go fellowship with these Christian women that I miss spending time with, even though my brain said, "You don't have time to add another thing."

I knew I would have a great time but what I didn't know was that it was the book that I needed to see just as much as the ladies.

The book we are studying is, "The Chosen Path of the Beatitudes" by Cliff Hulling. The book starts out with an introduction discussing that the beatitudes are not only a great list of guidelines for us to follow but a linear process that we should do in order. I had never thought about this before.

Before we start with the first, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3), the author spends a couple chapters discussing things that can stand in the way to Christ and take our minds from where they need to be. So far we have only covered: love of the world, following bad Christian examples, and pride.

Each of these chapters has given me things to think about changing or praying about. It has also given me some fulfillment in knowing that even though I feel far away from God some days that He is with me and helping me to stand firm in my Christian life. I have only been back in this group two weeks and I know exactly why I was God-grabbed and lead to this book.

The whole moral of the story is to listen to God. He speaks when we are expecting it and more often when we are not. He leads us where we need to go even when we think we were supposed to be going in the other direction. Whether you feel certain or unsure, daily give up your life to our creator who sent his perfect sacrifice to save our souls. He will take you where you were meant to go.

Have a great day!