Walk this Way
For Meditation (Rick Hutton)
I was in Chick Fil A the other evening and was surrounded by about a dozen elementary aged kids all dressed up in costumes. These costumes not only got the kids a free CFA meal, but were also, probably, expressions of something they would like to be one day.
Even though we all grow out of the phase of dressing up in costume as something we’d like to be, none of us outgrow our desire to be something. And this desire to be something begs the questions, how do I become that, and am I becoming what I want to be?
As we’ve been studying Judges this fall the question of who are we becoming has loomed large. We’ve seen God’s chosen people become more and more like the culture around them with little regard for God until they don’t even recognize the difference between themselves and the people oppressing them. Did they realize this was happening? Could this happen to us?
Our passage for this Sunday, Galatians 5:16-26, helps us see a positive answer to the question of who are we becoming. By the work of the Holy Spirit within us, as individuals and as a community, we can have the Fruit of the Spirit grow. It’s the work of the Spirit that causes the fruit to grow and we can join him in that work as we walk in step with him. Yes, the desires of the flesh, our sinful nature, are still there, but the Holy Spirit enables the fruit to grow, and because that’s true when we reflect on who we’re becoming we can see that we’re becoming more like Jesus, who is the perfect embodiment of this fruit.
As we prepare for worship this Sunday reflect on who you think you’re becoming. Ask someone who knows you well who they think you’re becoming. Do you and they see the fruit of the Spirit growing in you? This will take courage and vulnerability, but if we desire to be more like Jesus these are helpful and important steps to take.
No matter how mature the fruit of the Spirit is in our lives, we can know and trust that God is at work in and among us and where God’s Spirit is at work fruit will grow!
Galatians 5:16-26
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh 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, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh 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.