Walk by the Spirit
Day 623, Sunday, April 26
Galatians 5:13-26
The hazard of Paul’s extreme emphasis on Christian freedom is that it can descend into destructive indulgence. He counters that possibility with a reminder that following the Spirit will result in a life ruled by loving service, not self-indulgence. “But to no use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
Freedom from the law is also freedom from being ruled by the flesh. Freedom, then, brings the kind of life that the law seeks, but fails, to bring. Verses 19-23 present Paul’s famous statement of what following the flesh leads to compared to what following the Spirit produces.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 118:1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

Prayer focus
Lord, let our lives be a beacon of the freedom and loving service you have called us to.