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The Soul and the Spirit – Day 8

Galatians 5:19-23

The acts of the sinful nature 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. … But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Thought

Paul often talks about the battle between the soul (or the sinful nature), and the spirit. It was all very clear for him. Maybe he saw it clearly because he had spent many years in hard religion before his Damascus road experience after which he knew that God loved him.

He had to learn that he was to love others by teaching them about Jesus and admitting that he had been wrong! (A hard thing to do!)

Most of us know, if we are honest that we have one or two of those bad fruits mentioned in today’s verse, even if we consider them to be in a mild form. Remember that God doesn’t grade our offenses, there are no “small sins” and “big sins” Sin is sin and leads to death, but God’s desire is that we live holy lives for Him. Having Holy Spirit in our lives means that He can have an effect on everything we do and say. He is there 24/7, not just on Sundays!

Action

Praise Jesus that He carried your sin to the cross. Praise Him for the fruits of the Spirit that you know are growing in your life.

Take a little extra time today and meditate on the verses from Galatians 5.

Ask yourself seriously how much of the fruit of the sinful nature still needs dealing with in your life.

Pray for a growth in spiritual fruit, and for a death of those things that are destroying your soul. Pray for more fruit of the Spirit among your church community.

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