Galatians 5:1, 13-25 (NRSV)
Read Galatians 5:1, 13-25 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 5For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Verse 13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. Verse 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Verse 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Verse 16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. Verse 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. Verse 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Verse 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, Verse 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, Verse 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Verse 22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, Verse 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Verse 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Verse 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Devotion
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”
A crabapple tree in my backyard launches nature’s most stunning fireworks display every spring. Our neighbors and visitors never fail to comment on its vivid, eye-catching beauty, but my nine-year-old daughter learned the truth of this tree late last summer as she sampled some of its fruit: “Yuck, Daddy!” she blurted after biting into one of the little pebbles of bitterness it annually drops all over the yard. “Why is it so sour?”
We live in cherry country and were enjoying a summer of succulent sweetness from the orchards of parishioners. These crabapples were a shocking contrast! “Why?” “Well,” I replied, “That’s what the crabapple tree produces. If you want sweetness, you’ll need to find a different tree.” Paul reminds us today to choose our tree carefully, for looks can be deceiving.
Prayer
Blessed Spirit, remind us that through our faith in Jesus, delicious freedom is ripening in every bare patch of our lives. Quicken in us the sweet fruits of the Spirit and teach us the joy of sharing the harvest! Amen.