24 July. Paul tells the Galatians to follow the Holy Spirit
"So I tell you: live by following the [Holy] Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want..."
"The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins, worshipping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these."
"I warn you now as I warned you before: those who do these things will not inherit God's kingdom."
"But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit...."
"Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again... By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ..."
"If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself. Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done..."
"Do not be fooled: you cannot cheat God. People harvest only what they plant. If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit, they will receive eternal life from the Spirit."
"We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it..."
"See what large letters I use to write this myself. Some people are trying to force you to be circumcised so the Jews will accept them. They are afraid they will be attacked if they follow only the cross of Christ..."
"It is not important if a man is circumcised or uncircumcised. The important thing is being the new people God has made. Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule - and to all of God's people... "
"My brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."
(Galatians 5:16-25, 6:1-18)
At the end of his letter to the believers in Galatia, Paul contrasts their old life of selfishness, envy and sexual sin with their new life following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Rather than acting immorally, Paul tells the believers to let their lives be directed by the ‘fruit’ of the Holy Spirit. Because “the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22).
He urges the believers to help in carrying each other’s burdens. “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).
Paul writes the final greetings with his own hand (while the remainder has been dictated). He finishes the letter by suggesting that those advocating circumcision for Gentile believers are only encouraging them to become Jews to avoid persecution as Christians.
Then he closes with a traditional benediction: “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (Galatians 6:18).
The photo shows a selection of edible fruit.
You can read the whole of Paul's Letter to the Galatians starting at https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/…/pauls-letter-to-galatia/.