Meditation

Hi there,

To end this second week of our "BCC Originals" season, we'll copy a well-known text from Galatians.​

The "fruit of the spirit" verses are familiar to all Christians and typically experienced as an uplifting encouragement. But by copying out the full text of "Life by the Spirit," you get a feel for the violence of the language that precedes it.

I had never taken note of the phrase "If you bite and devour each other" before. In this passage, the spirit and the flesh are truly in conflict. All the forceful words are on the flesh's side of the ledger.​

The battle is real, and the enemy has plenty of potent weapons.

The urgency of Paul's writing here is unsettling.

Today's text is Galatians 5:13-18

​

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.​

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ 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.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Encouragement

¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

¹⁹ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification

Romans 14:18-19

Andy​

God's Word In Your Hand

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