Galatians 5:16-24- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and
you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,
divisions, 21 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
So I’m doing pretty good today: it’s about 11:00AM, I am
sitting in a coffee shop sipping an incredible cup of coffee from Burundi and
as much as I like this cup of coffee I have made the active choice NOT to bow
down in front of it and start singing its praises. It’s really good though, so
I might get tempted later. So, Im doing great at not worshiping Idols this
morning. I’ve put down this cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito and nothing
else really - so I am also doing pretty great at avoiding drunkenness today
too. Sorcery hasn't been an issue for me all day, although if there was a spell
to enable me to make coffee this good I might actually consider it. There’s a
cute chick a couple tables away that has a couple interesting tattoos that keep
catching my attention but so far I have been free from impure thoughts and any
sexual immorality. I have been 100% free from rivalries all day
today (but I haven't spent much time on Facebook today with Drew Harkins and
that trash-talking group of weak hockey players at Grace Bible). Peter, the
barista, got my order perfect so I have not had any fits of anger yet today.
Orgies have yet to be a temptation in my life. So, as I said, I am doing pretty
good today. I haven't done any of the things on that list of stuff to avoid in
that passage… but (and this is a true story) after I sat down
my friend Steve walked into the coffee shop and came over and said hi. Steve
went to some things with our youth group when he was in high school and now is
really connected at another church in town. He is just a really cool guy. After
he says hi to me he sits down by himself and another guy jumps over to his
table and start talking to him about a book he is reading, I hear them saying
something about Jesus and Prayer or something… just seems like a cool
conversation with someone that Steve knows. Then the door opens and the next
guy says “hey Steve”, Steve knows this guy. One more comes in, 2 strangers
had already sat at Steve’s table so they talked with him a little bit, and now
another guy comes in and sits at Steve’s table. Meanwhile Steve has pulled out
his computer, a nicer Macbook then the one I am using… it’s official : I’m
jealous of Steve today. Dang it. I had been doing so good at that list, I had
worked so hard at not breaking any of those things on that list, and I blew it
over a friend with a cooler computer that happens to be the mayor of this
coffee shop today. Oh well.
It’s pretty ridiculous to try to go through life that way
right? Proud of myself for not dabbling in sorcery at all today, thats silly.
Life is not about a list of things that I don’t do. This passage makes that so
clear, it’s about walking by the Spirit. When we do that, then we don't have to
worry about falling into that other stuff. Focus on being filled with Love and
patience and kindness and God will take care of the rest.
Answer This:
1. What is something that you have worked so hard to
avoid only to fall for it again and again? What would happen
if you took the opposite approach and first tried to work on a positive option
instead?
2. Think about the people that you look up to, the ones that
you go to when you have an issue… what is it about them that
attracts you to them so much? Is it the things that they DON’T Do, or is it the
things that they Do Do? (yes, I know I said do-do)
3. “But I say, walk by the ________, and you will not
____________ the desires of the flesh.”
Take a minute and journal your thoughts.
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Written by Jeff Harkins
This was a good devo. Sometimes we build up our expectations by following rules we have to follow but then one little thing can change that. I know I have followed the rules and then missed a rule and everything fell apart. It doesn't happen to me often, but it has happened before.
ReplyDeleteI think this struggle is why a lot of people end up walking away from church/God. If Jesus is all about a list of Do's and Don'ts, that's not really something I want. I mess up. I can't do everything right all the time. I'm glad God continually extends His grace to me!
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