Galatians 4-6 Life and good fruit!

December 27th Galatians 4-6

       One of our main values in the Evangelical Covenant Church is to keep in step with the Spirit. The second half of Gal 5 outlines this idea for us plainly. It's the task of walking by the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh. these two are opposed to each other and end up in different places. Verse 19 gives a look into the life lived in the flesh and a great transition begins in 22.
       These two lists side by side help capture the difference I see in the lives I interact with. Here's God's heart for people if they would live into His way… this is what God wants for you, the fruit of letting go and allowing the life of God to fill change you…"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." You can have as much of that fruit as you want!!
       Verse 25 adds a little extra with an invitation… "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."It's really a call to pay attention the the Spirit's promptings in my life. To be sensitive to sin. To stop when asked to stop, to go when asked to go. To practice listening to God's voice at all times so it's more clear and we're used to His voice in the hard times. Jesus speaks a bout the sheep being able to recognize the shepherd's voice. Are you familiar with your friends voice on the phone so that they don't have to say who they are.
       There is life in keeping step with the Spirit, close…and in step. Life and good fruit!!