The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:19-25, “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality,

impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,

factions,

21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just

as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the

kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and

desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

Which is easier, to involve ourselves in things of the flesh or allow the Holy Spirit to guide us? By nature, the Galatians were an impetuous people. By nature, we are also impetuous. Paul cites 15 sinful attitudes and actions that people commit and then he concludes by saying “those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

It hardly seems necessary to further describe the sins to which Paul alludes. They are largely known to all of us because they permeate our daily lives. It is sufficient to under-stand that participation in such sins eliminates our inheritance of the kingdom of God.

In stark contrast, Paul cites only nine fruitful elements that come from the Holy Spirit of God. It is obviously not an indication that less comes from God than comes from our sinful natures. Perhaps, the apostle is being subtle in saying that it takes less to be what the LORD wants of us than we think.

Dr. G. Campbell Morgan identifies the fruit of the Spirit as in correlation with the attributes of Christ’s life. Morgan cites love as the essential attribute underlying each of the others. Joy is identified as “the consciousness of love”; peace, as “the confidence of love”; longsuffering, as “the habit of love”; gentleness, as “the activity of love”; goodness as “the quality of love”; faith as “the quantity of love”; meekness as “the tone of love”; and self-control as “the victory of love.”[1] What a life to know and live –if only we were totally yielded to the Spirit’s control!

I spoke today with man who identified a long-time friend of his as “having possessed the nearest likeness to Jesus Christ” as any one he had ever known. What an enviable characterization! Yet, it could be true of any of us if we were only to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and control our lives. Pray that we will all turn our lives to His control; for when we do, we bring honor and glory to His Name.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

1G. Campbell Morgan, The Westminster Pulpit (London: Pickering and Inglis, Ltd., n.d.,) pp. 171ff.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

________________________________

[1]G. Campbell Morgan, The Westminister Pulpit (London: Pickering and Inglis, Ltd., n.d.), pp. 171-179.