Scripture I need to always keep close...

Galatians is a book that I really enjoy. From the time I first became a Christian, it was a book that I always took to well. It's one of the first books that I actually read through from beginning to end and it just always has spoken to me. Something drew my attention back to it tonight. I wanted to share.

Galatians 5

Freedom in Christ
1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature[a]; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Life by the Spirit
16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.


I think I love this chapter so much because it's such important reminders. Man, how many times do I find myself stuck back in old habits, sidetracked by people who are not heading the same way as me, distracted by anger...

Love---ALL mankind.

Joy---letting the joy of Christ abound in me no matter my circumstances

Peace---in my heart, allowing it to help me stay grounded and at ease and settled, when life is frenzied around me I can still have peace

Patience---not just when it's convenient but in all situations and with everyone.

Kindness--not just to people I think deserve it, but to everyone...coming from a sarcastic family I find this is often most difficult for me...I can be very quick witted and sharp tongued, definately not always kind

Goodness--to overflow with the goodness of Christ, pure and Holy

Faithfulness--to know that at all times He has me in His care and will never leave me, to be obedient and faithful relying only on Him

Gentleness--to react and behave in a caring, gentle way. Standing on my convictions does not mean I have to stomp and shout

Self-control--withholding my reactions that are not Godly, refraining from sinful behavior, holding my tongue...this includes e-mails, responding to blogs (lol)

Live in the spirit and life will be sooooooo much simpler. I'm taking my own advice.