Galatians 5:22-25
Galatians 5:22-25 NIV
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. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Devotional
Paul describes the fruit that grows in the life of a believer who walks in step with the Spirit—qualities that reflect the character of Jesus and mark a life genuinely shaped by the Spirit's presence.
The greatest evidence that the Holy Spirit has been at work in your life is not an emotional moment; it is a changed life. Tears during worship can be genuine, but they are not the measure of transformation. The measure is fruit. Is there more love where there was once bitterness? More patience where there was once anger? More peace where there was once striving? The Spirit does not come to give you spiritual highs. He comes to make you more like Jesus. That work is slower, quieter, and deeper than any single moment in a service. But it is the work that lasts.
Read the Context
Galatians 5 NIV
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 the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith 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 to keep 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, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11Brothers and sisters, 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 and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh (a); rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (b) 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever (c) you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19The acts of the flesh 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, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh 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.
Footnotes:
a 13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
b 14 Lev. 19:18
c 17 Or you do not do what
Make it Personal
Practical Application
Choose one fruit of the Spirit to focus on for the next seven days. Each morning, ask the Holy Spirit to produce that quality in you through the ordinary moments of the day. At the end of each day, reflect honestly on where you cooperated with His work and where you resisted it.
Talk to God
Paul describes the fruit that grows in the life of a believer who walks in step with the Spirit—qualities that reflect the character of Jesus and mark a life genuinely shaped by the Spirit's presence.
The greatest evidence that the Holy Spirit has been at work in your life is not an emotional moment; it is a changed life. Tears during worship can be genuine, but they are not the measure of transformation. The measure is fruit. Is there more love where there was once bitterness? More patience where there was once anger? More peace where there was once striving? The Spirit does not come to give you spiritual highs. He comes to make you more like Jesus. That work is slower, quieter, and deeper than any single moment in a service. But it is the work that lasts.
Read the Context
Galatians 5 NIV
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 the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith 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 to keep 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, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11Brothers and sisters, 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 and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh (a); rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (b) 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever (c) you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19The acts of the flesh 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, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh 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.
Footnotes:
a 13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
b 14 Lev. 19:18
c 17 Or you do not do what
Make it Personal
- Looking at the fruit described in Galatians 5, which quality is most visibly growing in your life right now?
- Which one reveals the area where you most need to yield to the Spirit's work?
Practical Application
Choose one fruit of the Spirit to focus on for the next seven days. Each morning, ask the Holy Spirit to produce that quality in you through the ordinary moments of the day. At the end of each day, reflect honestly on where you cooperated with His work and where you resisted it.
Talk to God
- What part of God’s character do I want to praise him for?
- What do I want to thank God for?
- Do I have any unconfessed sin?
- What do I need God’s help with?
- What questions do I have?
- Do I need direction? Do I know how God wants me to serve him today?
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