Galatians 5:24-26

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Personal Challenge

Do we really want to live a godly, righteous life? It is one thing to say that we do, and it is an entirely different thing to actually do it. To live a godly, righteous life, we must be willing to crucify our fleshly desires and passions on the cross of Christ. We must then desire to live our lives walking in the Spirit, yielding to His leading and not ignoring Him. We will need to avoid conceitedness, provocation, and envy. We must be so close to Jesus that we never lose sight of his footsteps to follow in. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Proverbs 17:14 (17:15)

The foundation of righteousness gives authority to words,
But discord and quarreling precede poverty.

Personal Challenge

What is the foundation of who we are? This is a question that we all need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. Is it based on discord and quarreling? Are we always trying to stir the pot or play the devil’s advocate? Or is our foundation built on righteousness, which only comes from our Lord Jesus Christ? We have a choice. We can live our lives one of these two ways, each of which has their own consequences. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Encouraging Words

If we are followers of Christ blessed by baptism into His body, and anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, then we have been given the fruit of the Spirit. It is up to us to pick this fruit, eat of it, and let it permeate our lives. What a glorious and life generating, fruit it is. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all ours to claim and let us drive who we are. Glory be to God!

Proverbs 17:1

Better is a morsel with enjoyment in peace
Than a house full of many good things and unrighteous sacrifices with quarreling.

Personal Challenge

There are multiple passages in Proverbs that remind us of how important it is for us to live in peace with those in our household, especially our spouse. Peace does not come from stuff or numerous activities, including multiple religious activities, but from loving one another. Here is a prayer that I utter every day to help me focus on a peaceful relationship in my home. I may not get it right every day, but the foundation keeps getting referenced with this prayer.

O Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for blessing our marriage through the sacrament of Holy Matrimony.
When we stood together before Your Holy Altar, we invited You to come and bless us.
We claim Your Holy Presence in our marriage this day and every day.
You are the Source of Love.
Keep pouring Your love into us through the Holy Spirit.
Help us to stay close to You.
Help us to prefer one another in love,
To consider it a privilege to be able to serve one another
Until we see You face to face.
Help us to be kind to each other, tenderhearted,
Forgiving one another as You have forgiven us.
Never let the sun go down on our anger.
Grant us always to see our own faults
And not to judge each other.
Open our eyes to the best in each other.
Let patience reign supreme in our hearts.
Give us hope to brighten life,
And joy to lighten sorrow.
May our home be a haven where spiritual values are treasured and
Holy principles are modeled.
Gladden us with Your grace and peace that with one heart we may
Praise and glorify You.
Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Galatians 5:16

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Personal Challenge

So, how do we walk in the Spirit? We must begin by putting our fleshly passions and desires to death by laying them at the foot of the cross of Jesus. This is what He gave His life for. Then we strive to walk in the footsteps of Christ, doing things that He would do, thinking like Him, loving God and our neighbor. A righteous Christian life comes through continual action, always moving toward God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Proverbs 16:32 (16:30)

A patient man is better than a strong man,
And he who controls his temper is better than he who captures a city.

Personal Challenge

If I have learned anything during my life as a follower ·of Christ, it is to never pray for patience or humility. It is far better to work on those characteristics on a regular basis, trying to be like Christ rather than being forced into them by being the opposite. So many people view patience as a weakness when it is truly a sign of strength. Patience also guides us through dealing with and controlling our temper. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Personal Challenge

As followers of Christ, we have been set free from the restraints of the law. We have been called to a life of liberty in Christ. This also means that we must choose to not use this liberty to feed the desires and passions of our flesh, but to use it to glorify and edify Christ. We do this by serving one another in His love. Glory be to God!

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Encouraging Words

God established the law in His first covenant to highlight for mankind their sinfulness and need for redemption. What did we do with it? Rather than see it as a way to see our God and His love for us, we made it so burdensome that it became divisive and even separated us from God. Jesus came from heaven, became one of us, and totally fulfilled the law rendering it unnecessary from then on. Jesus set us free from the law and gave us a new covenant based on love. We must stand fast on this love and the freedom that it brings and not get entangled in the bondage of the fulfilled law. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!