“肉体所行的都是显而易见的,就如淫乱、污秽、邪荡、拜偶像、行邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、忿怒、自私、分党、结派、嫉妒、醉酒、荒宴,和类似的事。我从前早就告诉过你们,现在又事先告诉你们:行这些事的人,必定不能承受 神的国。 但圣灵的果子是仁爱、喜乐、平安、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制;这样的事,是没有律法禁止的。”
加拉太书 5:19-23
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:19-23
As followers of Christ it’s easy to project an image to those around us that we don’t struggle with sin. But God knows better. The war between good and evil that began eons ago continues today within the believer’s heart.
Even though we are redeemed and will one day reign with Christ, we experience the daily struggle between obedience and disobedience.
In today’s reading, Paul lists the kinds of attitudes and behaviors that characterize our fallen nature. But he also lists those godly qualities that reflect Christ’s own character and are pleasing to God.
The challenge of the Christian life is to yield our hearts to the control and direction of the Holy Spirit so we will bear fruit that is honoring to God and benefits those around us.
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