Let Me Not Wander

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. People can say that they don't see GOD or hear GOD, but there is evidence that HE is real all around us. Everyday there is proof of the one true GOD. There is no language barrier, just the magnificence of GOD's creation, in a sense, being spoken each day through the earth which he created.

The heavens declare the glory of GOD: and the firmament shows his handiwork. David acknowledges that there is a GOD, the GOD. Sometimes when I'm outside, I stare up at the sky and I am amazed. You know when the sun sets and its so beautiful, b/c the entire sky is a mixture of red, orange, and pink? That's when I see the glory of GOD. Or you can look at the word "heavens" in a broader sense: the universe. At night, w/the human eye we can see the moon, stars, and a couple planets. I can't imagine what David saw when he looked into the night sky. With no city lights to take away the blackness of night. If a descriptive poet like David uses the "heavens and firmament" to compare to GOD's glory how much more magnificent HE must truly be.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. That word conceited means "to glory without reason." And that is something to keep in mind as we draw closer to Christ. Anything that we do has nothing to do with ourselves. Therefore we have no reason to boast.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Wow, this is a really cool verse. Once again, there is a phrase in here that I have never noticed before. The part that says, "...let us keep in step..." It makes me think of a dance. The spirit leads, and I stay in step. When that happens, it is beautiful.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. If you belong to Christ Jesus, not just in word, not simply some prayer that you prayed, but if you genuinely belong to Christ Jesus, then the sinful nature has been crucified! You are a new creature. All of those old passions and desires are dead. Of course, we are still stuck in this fleshly body, but we are now spiritually alive.

Against such things there is no law. This is one thing that I love about this blog: Running across phrases like this. I have many times read through the fruits of the Spirit, but I don't think that I have ever given a second thought to this particular phrase found after that list. What does it mean? Most of the commentaries that I read said basically the same thing. They all agreed that this phrase is saying that if your life is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit, then there is no condemnation for you. I don't know. I have seen other places in the Bible where the word law is referring more to a rule of life, or a way of living. If that is the case, then this verse would mean that if you are living according to the Spirit, then there is no other way of living that can stand up to that.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How many times have we heard this list? Most of us could quote it. Keep in mind that this is in contrast to the previous list. Paul in comparing two paths, two ways to live. We can either live by the Spirit, or we can live by the old sinful desires. We can then see where these two paths lead, what do these two paths produce in a person's life? For me, the most encouraging part is that life by the Spirit is life by THE Spirit. This fruit isn't something that I have to come up with, it is produced by the Spirit of God.

envying , drunkenness , carousing , and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The warning has been given again and again... "those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." To practice something, would be to continue in it, for it to be the lifestyle. So, people who live this way, will not be able to enjoy or partake in the kingdom. They will not be a part of it here or later, after death. The kingdom of God begins now, at least that is what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. You see, we have the availability to enjoy the heavenly citizenship NOW!

idolatry , sorcery , enmities , strife , jealousy , outbursts of anger , disputes , dissensions , factions , We could easily spend a day on each and every one of these words. And we could probably all use a study on each of these words. There are probably roots of many of these sins in all of our lives. And remember that, according to verse 19, these are the works of the flesh that are evident. In the greek, this word means: apparent, evident, known, manifest i.e to be plainly recognised or known . These are the sins that are obvious! Take some time and click through these word to see what each one of them means. (all definitions and links are through www.studylight.org )

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality , impurity , sensuality , Paul begins a list here of the "deeds of the flesh." Try to remember that this passage is contrasting the spirit and the flesh.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. We are no longer under the law. What we do is led and directed by the Spirit of God.

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. The Spirit is working at that which pleases and glorifies God. It is out for ultimate joy. But the sinful nature is short-sighted. It is seeking after the temporary pleasures, that do not last. And we end up at war within ourselves. Most of you know exactly what I am talking about.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For years I have tried to eliminate sin from my life by pure will power. It doesn't work. The only way to experience any real change is life by the Spirit. What does this look like? I think that this passage in Galatians will help us.

But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God's name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. The Old Testament was written as an example for us. And so many times in the Old Testament we can see the two possible outcomes, according to the two different types of lifestyles. Those who choose to live according to God's way of life will be praising and rejoicing in God. All of those who choose to go the other path will be silenced.

They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. Anytime that you read through the Psalms, you will find a passage or two like this. And even though God clearly states that we are to love our enemies, sometimes it is good to keep in mind the final destination of those who do wrong.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Our souls are clinging to God. We are holding on, as if we are about to fall. In our minds we think that if we slip at all, it will be a disaster for sure. But all the while, God's right hand is upholding us. In my mind, I can picture holding my own sons, when they were little. They would hold on to me, as if they were about to fall. Their little fingers would dig in, grasping, clinging to my shirt or around my neck. But there is no way they would ever fall. My right hand is upholding them. My grasp on them is far greater than their grasp on me. Only in their minds are they holding themselves up. If I were to let go, they would most assuredly fall. So I hold them up. And I love every minute of them clinging to me.