Changed in Christ

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21 (The Message)

            It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.

Devotion:

            I want to take a fresh look at Galatians 5 today. By using the Message version, we hopefully will get a fresh reading of these familiar passages. Many of us know this chapter as the one in which Paul outlines for us the fruit of the Spirit. In this chapter Paul contrasts the differences between the flesh life and the spirit-filled life. Reading the list above can be quite depressing. We see our culture or (if we are honest) we may see our own reflection in these descriptions.

            We can be quite unsettled by a list like this. It hits close to home. We see our own culture reflected mightily in these words. We can only wonder why God does not intervene directly in the mess we have made of his good creation. The protestant reformers had a name for this condition, “total depravity”. This concept has fallen out of favor among theologians today, however, I believe that they should be rehabilitated for our current generation. We constantly invent new ways of doing evil to one another and the environment in which we live. This world is about as close to total depravity as you can get. Not only does the world slip into this sea of sin it brags about the depths to which we have sunk.

            The church even ventures into some of the world's debasing actions. The church has been known to lapse into sexual sin and then try to cover it up. Greed also rears its ugly head in the church. Some churches leap headlong into various kinds of idolatry or spiritual showmanship that have no place with the people of God.

            What can the average Christian to do when faced with the deterioration of the world and the church? The Christian can begin by examining themselves seeking to root out any form of evil he may be secretly treasuring in his or her heart. Seek good company. The Lord always has a remnant of believers. (1 Kings 18:19) Finally seek to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit. As are described here in Galatians 5: 22-33 (The Message)

                        “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”

Prayer:

            Lord fill us up with your Holy Spirit. May we be true salt and light in our dark and darkening world. Save us from sins which can so easily entangle us. Help us to speak gently and wisely with our neighbors who do not see the world the way we do. Let all we do bring glory to your name. Amen