God Grants Freedom & Fruit (Oct 11)
Galatians is Paul’s manifesto of
justification by faith. He directs
this charter of Christian freedom
to people who are about to forsake
the liberty they possess in Christ.
Jewish legalists are influencing the
believers in Galatia to trade their
freedom in Christ for bondage to
the law. Paul writes to refute their
false gospel of works & to show the
superiority of justification by faith.
Lord, we Yield to Your Control:
Stand fast… in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of slavery. For you have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as anÂ
opportunity for the flesh (Gal 5:1,13. Â Â Â Â Â Â The works of the flesh are evident:
hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions… envy,
murders… and the like (Gal 5:19-21)
When the Holy Spirit Controls
our lives, He will produce
this kind of fruit in us:
Love, Joy, Peace,
patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control (Gal 5:22-23).
Lord, we can be vulnerable to
the works of the flesh, including
contentions and fleshly emotions.
As fruit of the Spirit doesn’t reside
within my flesh, keep my life cleared
of things that crowd out Your Spirit.
Enable me Lord to humble myself
before You and rely on Your Spirit.
Train me to Yield to the Control of
the Holy Spirit and may the fruit You
produce draw others to You. Amen.
Lord, I need the Joy that only You
can give; and I want to be marked
by Your Peace and not to worry.
Forgive me Lord for the times I let
circumstances control my mood.
I need Your joy and peace so that
others might see the comfort and
assurance available only in You.
And teach me to rest in knowledge
that You are in control. Amen.
Loving Lord, grant me to overflow
with Your Love so that it will
spill out in my words and actions.
Help me pursue the path of love,
in difficult circumstances or with
difficult people; and cause Your
Goodness to flow through me.
For it’s not easy to think of others
or think of glorifying You when my
life is filled with pain. So, grant me
grace to live supernaturally. Amen.