3 FEB 23 Friday: A Closer Walk Devotional
“That anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:21-22
The struggle for new Christians and even some seasoned ones are the difference between law and grace. We see that God established a relationship with the Jews for no other reason than he wanted to. God showed them favor (grace) then gave them the law as a part of the covenant relationship. The law revealed the holiness of God and what characteristics his people should reflect. God intends to have holy people that act like him.
When Jesus came, he lived among them and showed them that a holy life can be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. God still chooses who will be his people not by any metric that we can measure, but by his good pleasure. (grace) Jesus fulfills the law of the Jewish covenant that we couldn’t and gives his followers the Spirit and abilities to live a life pleasing to him.
If you look at the sins listed in verses 19-21, they are the desires and focus of self. When we came to faith, we were washed clean of these and we are not to go back to them. We move our focus from ourselves and to Jesus and to his will for our lives. How are you doing with this? Take heart, each new day gives you an opportunity to get in alignment and live for him.
Are you living for God or yourself?
Reading Plan: Psalm 69:1-23; Isa. 56:1-8; Gal. 5:16-24; Mark 9:2-13
Daily Office Year 1
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