What’s the next step in the process of the fruit of the Spirit? Let’s take a look at the next verse in Galatians 5:24.
“Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Oh Lord, we are supposed to put those evil desires and passions away? Yes, my friend, we are.
I like to think of it this way – it’s hard for the fruit of the Spirit and evil desires and passions to occupy the same space. They would be competing for the same space, in the same person and their values. This isn’t the same thing as having mayonnaise and ketchup mixed together. In my humble opinion, a disgusting combination, especially if you add horseradish.
But what I’m trying to get across here is that when we belong to Christ, our old selves and ways of life start to fall away. We start taking on new characteristics of Christ, new ways, more Christ-like ways. We start seeing fruit – we start seeing the fruit of the Spirit inhabit our lives. This is a good thing, a very good thing.
Let’s remember something.
Look, one important thing to remember here is when we start shedding the old self, it doesn’t mean the old self won’t still visit us from time to time. You can bet it will, and it does. But it’s what you do in those moments that count.
Life with Jesus is a daily commitment. You aren’t taking your coupon to the store for a BOGO and walking out of there, good till the next sale. My friends, you’re visiting that store every single day when you live a life with Jesus. For those that love coupons and love to shop, this should be good news for you!
All kidding aside, we have to make a conscious decision every day to follow Jesus and take on more Christ-like qualities if we are to become more like Him. Who wouldn’t want to be more like Jesus? After all, look at all the things he represents. The evil in this world is not offering those same things; I can tell you that.
What should we do?
Every day, we must draw on the Holy Spirits’ power because temptations will try and overtake us. Our old selves will try and creep back in. You may be in a place right now in your relationship with Jesus where you aren’t strong enough yet to resist the temptations of some of those old habits.
Each day, you have to recommit yourself; you have to crucify those things and turn them over to God daily. Moment by moment, we have to draw on His strength to get us through. I don’t know about you, but I sure am glad I have someone to turn to who allows me to do exactly that.
Lord, we struggle in this life with old things, with the habits we would love to kick to the curb. We struggle, Lord, with getting our lives to the place of experiencing real joy and happiness. It just seems like everything else comes so easily except those things we mentioned earlier. Everything else seems to find its way so much quicker than living a life for you. Father, give us the wisdom we need and the strength we need to make changes that will produce fruit. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
In His Service
The Teaching Lady
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