Galatians 5:18-25

“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” vs. 22

Paul’s picture of kingdom living is timeless and seems too good to be true. How is it possible to live in community and experience such extraordinary fruits in ourselves and in others? He makes it sound so easy–all we need to do is become love-slaves of Christ, and the Spirit will produce a cornucopia of blessings. This isn’t a series of nine new laws for us to obey–this is just what happens when the Spirit of Christ merges with our spirits. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will abound–and it happens all the time. We see it again and again as we walk with Jesus in our communities of faith. Why doesn’t it happen in everyone all the time? Paul says it’s because we misuse our freedom by giving license to the instincts of self-indulgence. When that happens sexual desires run amok; there is impurity and immorality; relationships are marked by jealousy, envy, anger, quarrels, and strife; drunkenness and carousing take over our weekends; and even loving becomes self-serving. It’s not a pretty picture, and sadly, such behaviors have become normalized in our society. We see it every day on our social media! The good news is that life doesn’t have to be this way. As people turn again to Christ, the Spirit takes over, and life is transformed.

Thought for the Day: What does it take for people to turn to Christ?

Galatians 5:1, 13-18

“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.” vs. 13

The freedom that Paul was talking about to the Galatians had little to do with the ordinances and rules of the Jewish Law. And for us it has nothing to do with escaping the strict moral and ethical codes of a pietistic upbringing. Our experience of freedom in Christ might begin with such a release, but we quickly discover that it’s ever so easy to fall captive to a myriad of other forces. Paul calls those enemies the flesh and believes that they lurk on the fringes of every human heart just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Some dismiss his language as primitive, but the self-indulgence that he speaks of is as present to us as it was to him. We see it happening every day in our culture, and sometimes friends and family are among the victims. In fact, every one of us is vulnerable–there’s probably not a person alive who has not dabbled in self-indulgence and honestly, it feels really good! True freedom, Paul says, comes only when we commit ourselves to following the one commandment lifted up by Jesus, that we love our neighbor as ourselves. That may seem like just one more rule to follow but for Paul loving is the key to opening up the treasures of kingdom living. As we become slaves to one another in love, we find contentment and joy.

Thought for the Day: What has self-indulgence done for me?

Psalm 16:7-11

“You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” vs. 11

We wouldn’t know it from the television and streaming programs we watch in our leisure time, but there is a good and decent way to live, and it is possible to find joy and pleasure in daily living. We don’t have to have one crisis after another and be so afraid that we isolate ourselves in our homes. Of course ugly things happen in our world, they happened in the days of the psalmist too. But the psalmist had a close connection to God, not just occasionally, but always. His every day was full of God’s presence and he reveled in the blessings of the universe. There were wonders at every hand, and inside he felt enormous peace and serenity. God is every bit as present to us as to the psalmist–the Divine Presence fills the universe. And as we open our hearts and minds to that Presence we learn to see the goodness of our lives. In fact, when we’re tuned in to God we discover that every cloud has a silver lining, and as our lives play themselves out, with day following day in an endless progression, we will regularly be surprised by joy and contentment. The key is gentle, selfless living and loving every day, and not the relentless pursuit of power and riches. Once we learn that, life is extraordinarily beautiful!

Thought for the Day: What gives me joy and pleasure every day?

Psalm 16:1-6

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.” vs. 6

This psalmist has no complaints about his life and is seriously grateful for the serenity that accompanies his days. And it isn’t because he thinks he’s more clever than anyone else or that the Lord loves him more. It’s just the way life has worked out for him–he knows that what he has is a gift. He lives in a good place and he has a goodly heritage–and he’s especially thankful for the solid faith that grounds him. He’s conscious of God’s constant presence and he relies on that spiritual connection to guide his decisions. Many of us know what that is like. We’re comfortable in our lives, and it isn’t because of our effort or calculation. We’ve lived careful and decent lives and are the beneficiaries of the planning and effort of those who have gone before us. And faith has always been a part of it. For one reason or another we’ve not strayed after the false gods of our culture and their empty promises, but have remained connected to our religious heritage. It isn’t that there is never suffering or pain–we too can get COVID or cancer–and sometimes our kids disappoint us. Ironically, when people ask us how we are, we’re reluctant to say just how good life is. We’re afraid it will sound like bragging! But it really is okay to feel good about how things have gone–and in reality it’s a blessing to just be alive!

Thought for the Day: How am I feeling about my life?

1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21

“He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” vs. 21

Elijah was the first of the prophets to appear in the ancient stories that were so cherished by the Israelites. People loved to read about his exploits as a defender of the faith during the time of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. But as the years passed and he got older the Lord gave him a plan of succession. Elisha, the son of a farmer, would become prophet to Israel in his stead. As the story was told, Elisha’s appointment was a surprise, an abrupt change in his life that involved leaving his father and mother, and it meant making a symbolic good-bye to farming. So he kills the oxen, boils the flesh, and feeds it to the people. He’d never plow again! Instead he becomes Elijah’s servant, and later on his successor. His story reminds us that sometimes, in the course of living out our calls as God’s people, there’ll be times for saying good-byes. We leave jobs, families, and beloved communities to serve in new and different ways. And even though it’s difficult when we have to burn bridges, our hearts tell us to go, and so we do, trusting that the Spirit will be our Comforter and our Guide. 

Thought for the Day: What’s the toughest good-bye I’ve ever made?

Luke 8:30-36

“Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.” vs. 37

When the people saw that the demonic had been healed, initially they were stunned. They’d gotten used to dealing with his periodic outbursts, and they knew what to do in response. But as they came from their city and the surrounding countryside and saw him having a casual conversation with Jesus–with his clothes on–they were startled, and then they were seized with fear. What more did Jesus have up his sleeve? So they asked him to leave. Sometimes that’s still our response when Jesus shows up in our communities, and people are changed. Many times we’d like people to just stay the way they’ve always been. We even water down the gospel and tell people not to take it too seriously–those bible stories about Jesus can’t possibly be true. That’s not how things really happen in this world. We reason that it’s better for people not to expect too much from faith–we don’t want to raise expectations. Life with all its frailties will go on pretty much as it has–after all we can’t expect miracles–and it’s best if we just get used to the way things are. And then the Spirit blows into town, Jesus shows up, and lives are changed. It’s a good thing–but it’s really uncomfortable, and some can’t wait for Jesus to get in his boat and go away again.

Thought for the Day: Why are changed people such a pain?

Luke 8:26-31

“As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.” vs. 27

Many of the homeless who can be seen in the streets of our cities suffer with various forms of mental illness. Some find refuge in shelters but many simply wander, looking for food and begging, and often being a nuisance to business owners. Sometimes they will seem possessed and shout at passersby. It’s hard to know how to respond to such people. We know that each of them is a beloved child of God but they make us uncomfortable and uneasy–their situation seems hopeless. Jesus was met by such a person when making landfall on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. We can picture the scene: a dirty, naked man shouting at the top of his lungs–and he recognizes Jesus! Jesus is neither afraid nor repulsed. Instead he commands the unclean spirit to come out and treats the man with kindness and healing compassion. Those are the attributes that are often lacking as we deal with those struggling with mental issues. We don’t talk much about demon possession anymore, we have different labels for the same symptoms. But it remains a massive issue in our society! Even though we might want to, we can’t just close our eyes to those who are afflicted. Obviously there are no easy answers–but doing nothing is not an option for Jesus People!

Thought for the Day: How do I respond to the homeless?

Galatians 3:27-29

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” vs. 29

Guided by the Spirit, Paul had developed a magnificent vision of unity in the Church that aligned perfectly with the desires of Jesus for his followers. He knew that the  congregations of Galatia were a mixture of Jews and Greeks, slave and free, and men and women–he further knew that those dualities could easily be sources of friction and disunity. Choosing his words carefully he crafted a beautiful description of unity in Christ that has stood the test of time, and is particularly relevant for us. Through the centuries, for a lot of different reasons, the Church of Christ has been beset by schisms and divisions of every kind, and our desired unity has been elusive. Different languages, liturgies, and theologies have resulted in thousands of different denominations and sects. Even relatively homogenous congregations have had a hard time avoiding the “separation” movement that is currently sweeping the church. But unity is not dead–we still experience it regularly in worship as we gather at the Lord’s Table. Here we come together, rich and poor, gay and straight, liberal and conservative, and receive the bread and wine with the words, “Given and shed for you!” And in that moment, shoulder to shoulder, we truly are one in Christ Jesus. May those times multiply among us!

Thought for the Day: When is it toughest for me to practice unity?

Galatians 3:23-26

“Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.” vs. 23

Looking back Paul now sees that his life before Christ, under the law, was like a rigid imprisonment. Strict adherence to the commandments and the ordinances kept him on the straight and narrow, but at a cost. He never experienced the freedom that comes with faith and grace. In this letter to the Galatians he explores that new life in Christ that now was theirs through faith. It’s a wondrous gift, but he also claims that the law had a purpose in their lives–he calls it a disciplinarian, and says that it prepared them for faith. We can see that clearly in the progression of our own lives too. There is a place for commandments and rules and as we train up our children in the way that they should go, we also want them to be thoroughly familiar with the Ten Commandments and the importance of obedience. We guard them with the law! But on the day that they meet the Risen Christ and realize what it means to live in Christ, the shackles of the law fall away, and they are free to be the persons God has made them to be. Salvation comes, not with obedience to the law, but with faith in Christ–but heaven help us if we ever neglect the law in our eagerness to proclaim the gospel. Liberty without license is a blueprint for chaos!

Thought for the Day: When did I stop living under the law?

Psalm 22:19-28

“For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.” vs. 24

While being a follower of Jesus includes being a part of a community, most of us probably relate to God from the perspective of an individual. We might have a sense of what is going on for others, rejoicing and grieving with them in our life together, but we also have very private feelings, thoughts, and desires. Often others don’t even know about those personal struggles with purpose, faith, and health. Presumably that’s what had been happening with the psalmist. He had been dealing with some major affliction, maybe even feeling forsaken, and had been crying out to the Lord both night and day for relief. And then he got an answer! His prayer was answered–and now he wants everyone to know. He even announces his healing to the whole congregation. What a blessing it is to have a community with which to share such good news! It brings encouragement to the body and enhances our witness. Too often we are silent about what is going on within. We swallow our hurts and disappointments and even muzzle our good news. We don’t have to make public announcements like the psalmist–that could be a little much for us–but it certainly is nice to have a group with whom we can share joys and sorrows. That’s what it means to live in Christ!

Thought for the Day: With whom do I share my ups and downs?