Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26).
It’s not about you.
Seriously
It’s not even about me, although I might need to double-check Scripture on that.
It’s about the One who, oh I don’t know, created everything with a word and orchestrates all of history to sing his praise and glorify his name.
Beloved, how much of our conflict with others stems from our own ego?
Too much
Eyes on the prize today, Beloved.
And off of the mirror
Happy Thursday
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
Have you ever seen a little kids’ dance performance?
Because I have.
Lots of motion and kicks and spins and vague arm gestures and all at different times. It’s cute, but painful to watch.
So painful
How about we not do that?
Or maybe you’ve seen the video of the marching band in which 99 kids execute a sharp turn left, and one poor trombonist chugs to the right.
How about we not do that?
Or the Blue Angels performance where…oh, wait…the Blue Angels are pretty much always perfect. A million miles an hour, ¾ of an inch from wingtip to wingtip, near-perfect symmetry.
How about we do that?
We have a choreographer, Beloved. Let’s follow the steps.
Happy Wednesday.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).
Crucifixion, as you probably know, is a painful process.
It’s supposed to be.
Crucifixion was not designed to be a quick, merciful death, but to utterly destroy the one being punished. And it worked beautifully, in all known cases.
You know…except one.
But the offenders did not die immediately. They lingered for hours, even days, before succumbing to the inevitable. Death was a given, but still they fought, thrashed, cried out.
So don’t be surprised if your sinful nature still raises its head and calls out to you. Don’t be surprised if it fights and clings to life. That’s to be expected. Just remember–it has been crucified. Its death is inevitable, no matter how much noise it makes. And you aren’t required to stand and stare at it in fascination. You don’t need to answer its piteous cries for help. You may turn and walk away.
So turn around, Beloved. Start walking.
Happy Tuesday.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus… (Galatians 5:24)
Stop right there.
Let’s begin the week with a quick heart check. As you read the above words, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus,”what was your gut reaction?
A. Did you just blow right past it, doing the obligatory read so you can get on with your day?
B. Did you rebel just a bit–or just a lot–thinking about how you’re your own person and you don’t belong to anyone, while images of slavery and oppression ran through your head?
C. Did you feel guilt, knowing that you just don’t measure up to what a Christ-follower ought to be?
D. Did you smile, feeling peace and joy and contentment run through you at the thought that he loves you, that the Creator of the Universe has called you to be his own, that you are completely, irrevocably, thoroughly his?
I know what the answer is supposed to be, but that’s not what I asked, now is it?
May I suggest that you make time this morning to go before the Throne of Grace and let your Lord refresh, renew, restore that heart before you take it out into the world?
I’ll be doing the same.
Happy Monday, Beloved.
…give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
“in”
Not “for”
but
“in.”
Beloved, there are things that occur in our lives that only a deranged person would be happy about.
Hey, I can’t pay my mortgage and I’m about to be homeless. Thanks, God!!
Wow, I just lost seven of my toes in a tragic rollerblading accident. Thanks, God!!
Gee, the dog just vomited up half of Kentucky on the carpet. Thanks, God!!
Feel free to add to the list.
Point is, trying to be thankful for the horrible nastiness of life is something best left to the truly psychotic,
which you are not.
I hope.
But God is not calling you to be thankful for these circumstances.
Only in them
See, being thankful in all circumstances is an acknowledgement that your circumstances do not define you, that they are not the end goal of your existence. No matter what awful, dystopic, dyspeptic, yougottabekiddingme events overtake us, our lives and selves remain rooted with Christ in God.
Uncrushable
Unsinkable
Unshakeable
Whatever this world sends your way, you can be thankful that God remains God, and you remain his, and that remains everything.
So, be thankful, Beloved.
Happy Wednesday
For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4).
So, as we move through Thanksgiving week, here’s a little something else to be thankful for:
You are the chosen one.
Well, maybe not the chosen one, but certainly a chosen one.
Consider this: before he made the world, God had you in mind.
Yeah, you.
He knew who you would be, how you would be. He saw your “We are the Champions” moments, your happy times,
your foolish choices
your many sins
your epic, seemingly endless failures
before they ever happened.
And he loved you.
And he chose you.
Wow
Now consider this: God is not bound by time, right? Past, present, future—it’s all kind of now to him. So when he looks at you he sees you not only as you are, but as you will be.
Holy
Blameless
Complete
His
Now, if only you could learn to see yourself as he sees you, hmm?
In the meantime, color yourself thankful and go forth in joy.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
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 (Galatians 5:22-23).
No law
No restrictions
You can be just a loving, just as patient, just as gentle as you want to be.
You can have all the joy and peace and self-control you can handle.
Feel like being kind, good, or faithful? Go for it, Baby!
You don’t have to pray about it or ask permission.
The sky’s the limit.
Go crazy, Kid.
Well, now…that sets a tone for the rest of the day, ya?
Happy Friday, Beloved.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
I’ve never considered self-control to be one of my strengths.
On the other hand, I teach twelve-year-olds for a living, and I’ve never hit one with a stick, so maybe I’m learning.
That’s the thing about self-control. You are trying to control the self, the will, the flesh, the part of you that wants, not to be controlled, but to be in control.
The part of you that strives against Almighty God.
Does that mean that every time I go back to sleep when I should go to the gym, or play on Facebook when I should be getting work done, or blah blah blah when I should Ta Daaaaaaaaaa! that I’m sinning against God?
Be careful, Beloved. That way lies madness.
Yes, our blatant slovenliness is a reflection of our sin nature. That’s why slovenliness is not counted as a fruit of the Spirit. But you know what? Most of the people I know–probably including you–already acknowledge and confess and beat themselves up about it.
News Flash–you’re not perfect.
News Flash 2–you will be.
Someday
Some glorious day
Let the Spirit do his work, Beloved. The fruit will ripen.
Happy Thursday
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness… (Galatians 5:22-23)
I am not, by nature, gentle.
At least, that’s what my family and friends and students and fellow drivers tell me.
But, hey–what do they know?
That is why, on those somewhat rare occasions in which I engage in gentleosity, I know that the Holy Spirit is at work in me. And the Spirit does work in us, Beloved, producing fruit that is at odds with our nature.
Because, let’s face it–anything truly good is at odds with our nature.
Praise God that he works in us, through us…and in spite of us.
Happy Wednesday, Beloved.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… (Galatians 5:22)
Faithful
Old Faithful
The term conjures up images of geysers and hound dogs and brings along words like reliable, dependable, stable.
Boring
Better to be known as exciting, mysterious, edgy, unpredictable, dangerous.
Maybe…in books and movies.
But in real life, we long for faithfulness. It means you will be there, day in and day out, come hell or high water. You will not be distracted or enticed or driven from your commitments, your promises, your oaths.
You will reflect the nature of God.
Hence the fruit of the Spirit.
How many homes have been destroyed by faithlessness?
How many hearts?
Too many
Embrace boring, Beloved.
Happy Tuesday.