In or out of the Spirit
Galatians 5:19 (MSG) 21 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.
Did any of you know this is in the Bible? And, when was the last time you heard the phrase “crucify the flesh.” To crucify the flesh means to nail to the cross that part of us that is anathema to Jesus. If we can see ourselves in Gal 5 and not want to crucify our flesh, then something is wrong!
My goal in writing these devotionals is to encourage others and to glorify God. But sometimes we have to take a hard look at ourselves and cut away any part that would dishonor God. How else can we grow into intentional disciples?
So, I invite any and all who see even a part of themselves in Paul’s description to bow before a holy God and join me in this prayer:
“Father God, You are holy,, holy, holy and I am truly undone when You show me who I am. Forgive me, dear Lord, and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. And whatever my state, physical or mental, I say to You “Here I Am, Lord, I will go, Lord. Equip me, strengthen me, and show me the way. And I will give You all of the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
May we spend at least a part of every day reflecting on who You are, and who we are in You.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Seeking Holiness 