God is not finished with me yet…

 

Our group Bible study is in Romans, but we often bring in thoughts from other parts of the NT, particularly the conflict we have between that old nature of sin and the new nature God gave us of Christ and His righteousness. 

This morning’s reading describes how the freedom we have in Christ must not be interpreted as freedom to do whatever we want — because that “I want” is often an old nature thing. As one of our group said, learning to walk in the Spirit means learning to listen to God. My ‘good’ ideas are not always His ideas.

Part of the problem is that the Bible often describes sin in extremes and the desires of the flesh as a list of gross activities that most Christians try to avoid. I know I want to serve God but the ideas I have can be motivated by a desire for self-glory, but even that desire is fleshy and can injure the faith of others.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:13–18)

The law of God is helpful to discern the bad stuff that creeps in, but because some of that is more subtle than the lists, I can miss it as being fleshy. I’m prompted to look at the list of spiritual fruit and let it help me pinpoint some of the opposites.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Love’s opposite is usually hate, but it could be ignoring needs that love would otherwise supply. Joy’s opposite can be anxiety and worry. Peace can easily be replaced by being over-burdened for others, which could be interpreted as a godly thing even though it can also be lack of trust in God. Patience easily gets replaced by “I must do something” when God is not asking me to do anything but trust Him. Again, listening to His voice is really important!

Kindness is an action. Doing nothing could be the opposite, or being mean, or gossiping about the needy person. Goodness has similar fleshy counterparts including ignoring those who could use my help, or a call, or even a hug or a smile. The opposite of faithfulness could sound like, “Oh, I forgot” or other forms of apology about ignoring responsibilities. Gentleness and harshness seem obvious, but just the lack of it says much. 

One dictionary says this: Gentleness refers to a virtue that characterizes one’s internal disposition or spirit. This term is  exclusive to Christians and never used to describe a person outside of Christ. It is accompanied by “love” and precedes “self-control.” James 3:13 relates it to the quality of being “wise” and Ephesians 4:2 puts it alongside “humility.” It is the opposite of being hostile or pugnacious — looking for a fight. Gentleness is required of the Lord’s servants to instruct “opponents with gentleness.” From this, I can see that gentleness is about being humble rather than assertive or pushy.

Self-control is often considered something ‘self’ does, but this is a fruit of the Spirit so it’s opposite sounds like “I couldn’t help it” — or any excuse of the flesh for doing something that is selfish and sinful. The passage goes on to add this: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”(Galatians 5:25–26) The flesh opposes this too — with pride, or with trying to get a rise out of others, or being discontent from a longing to have what others have.

Paul sums it up: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7–9) Fleshy living yields more of the same. Spirit-filled living reveals that I have eternal life.

PRAY: Lord, this exercise in words and their opposites convicts me. Doing good involves my whole being. Sometimes I think I’m dedicated wholly to You, but again realize You still have much to expose and cleanse out of my life.

Not the most popular character trait . . .

 

 

Today’s word has a bad reputation. Many people associate it with ‘wimpy’ or fearful weakness, yet MEEK describes Jesus Christ who is none of those things.

It also describes Moses in Numbers 12:3. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” He was far from wimpy. Instead, this word is about  a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them. That takes strength rather than fearful weakness.

David also used this concept to describe God both in 2 Samuel and the Psalms. He said, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.”

In the NT, this describes Jesus and He even used the word meek to describe Himself. Here, and in many cases it is translated gentle.

Matthew 11:29. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Even the readers of that day thought being noted for meekness or modesty was a weakness. Yet this describes God the Son, a perfect human without sin. Some say meekness is the best described as strength under control, like a wild stallion that has been tamed. There is power behind true meekness!

This word and its often used synonym, gentleness, means to approach others (including one’s enemies) in a humble and caring spirit, not using force to get one’s way. It is being like Christ and should characterize Christians, particularly since it is included as one of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the God’s Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

It is also descriptive of the wisdom of God. James 3:13 asks and answers, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” Then James describes the opposite which is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” and causes “disorder and every vile practice.” He contrast this fleshy wisdom with godly wisdom that includes humble and lenient gentleness:

James 3:17–18. “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Is there a difference between meekness and gentleness? Paul uses both words in 2 Corinthians 10:1 to describe Jesus as the source of his own attitude:

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”

My dictionary says meekness (often translated gentleness) means “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered” whereas in this verse, gentleness means “leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person charged with administering justice.” The first is a general way of being in all situations, while the second word means the same thing but is more specific in who and why meekness is shown.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus, because He died and rose again, purchased my redemption. He did this in meekness, accepting the wrong done to Him because in the eyes of God it was the only way to save sinners. As my Savior, He treats me with gentleness, even during those times I describe as being “booted in the backside and hugged at the same time.” It is His attitude of choice toward His children. As I focus on this, my attitude toward others cannot hold on to things like anger, resentment, bitterness, accusation, etc. Jesus is not like that, and because God is at work to transform me into the image of His Son, then this unpopular word meekness needs to be part of who I am.