Are you a legalist or a lover?
How can you know for sure?
Please read Galatians 5:22-24
Vs. 22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
God is in the business of making us more Loving. God’s work in us and through us creates a heart that Loves. What does that look like?
It starts with Love then Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and lastly Self Control.
Notice not once did this passage state that the Spirit would give you power to follow the rules and laws better. Why?
The law is holy and just and for someone under the law it is everything- but remember being under the law is not what Christ ever asked us to be and Paul never said the law made anyone more Christ-like.
If the god you serve is trying to make you anything but more compassionate and caring and loving for others- it isn’t the God I serve and met while flat on my back with guilt and shame and feeling condemned.
My flesh has been crucified which means I no longer have to be right, I have no need for pompous boasting and having to prove myself to you is about as important as the price of peanuts in China.
Here is a meditation for you. Find a time and a place where you probably won’t be disturbed. Begin by taking several deep breaths and with each exhale let God take your stress a bit more. As you gently close your eyes begin to get a picture of yourself with the qualities above. Just you being the fruits of the Spirit, whatever that looks like to you and as you do:
Breathe in and say:
“Crucify my flesh”
Breathe out and say:
“and Be in me”
Practice this until you sense Love growing in you- that is God developing in you the heart and soul of a Lover like Christ!
Don’t worry- Be Grace-Full!!