November 13-19
Finding Freedom - Galatians 5:1-26
Look at that Tree!
November 18, 2022 • Olivia Tew • Galatians 5:22
Have you ever observed the process of a tree producing fruit? In most circumstances it takes quite a long time. From planting, watering, growing to maturity, pruning, pollination, fertilization, flowering and finally FRUIT! It seems like a miracle when you finally take that first delicious bite. I’ve often wondered why so many times the Bible uses trees and fruit as an illustration of our faith journey. Across cultures and time, we see fruit used as a symbol of health and abundance. A bountiful harvest often indicates prosperity. So maybe it’s no coincidence that God chose fruit to show how the Holy Spirit shows up in the lives of believers. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things." Galatians 5:22 Notice how this passage says fruit (singular), not fruits (plural). When we follow Jesus, He produces this fruit. We don’t cherry pick (hahahaha) which fruits we want to display or live out; they all work together to become one whole entity—THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Notice, it’s not the Fruit of Olivia and all her hard work. It’s the Spirit. It is letting Him take the lead and bring about the harvest. It’s so freeing to know the miracle of producing fruit isn't on my shoulders. It’s by spending time with God and letting the Holy Spirit work in my heart that the Fruit of the Spirit shows up. God freely offers me abundance, prosperity, and all good things if only I choose to accept them! Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
I Want!
November 17, 2022 • Olivia Tew • Galatians 5:19–21
Have you ever observed a toddler tantrum? It’s really a sight to behold. Absolute desperation to have their own way, coupled with rage at the person, place, or thing standing in their way. In most cases, the child becomes so enraged they often no longer remember the initial circumstance that set them off. In my house, we called this “The Red Zone.” When someone’s in the red zone there is no reasoning with them, all common sense and clear thinking is gone. I like to imagine Paul was thinking about The Red Zone in Galatians 5:19-21 when he lists out all the different works of the flesh. Even though he says “the works of the flesh are obvious” I think he was keenly aware when we are in the grips of these desires, urges, and practices we ask the Holy Spirit (our spiritual rational thinker) to take a back seat. Back to our toddler. When I’m working with a tantrum-prone tike I often address the behaviors when they’re not actively happening. We talk about the consequences of the tantrums and where these actions will lead: loss of privileges. That’s where Paul leads us with his list. When we choose to regularly engage in these behaviors and practices we forfeit our inheritance, the very kingdom of God and all the richness within. “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, arousing and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Notice Paul doesn't say it’s a one and done situation. He understands no one is perfect. The translation for “those who practice” indicates regular, habitual engagement. I believe he’s using this list as a reference point to constantly come back to when we feel ourselves heading off toward The Red Zone!
Free to Do What I Want?
November 16, 2022 • Olivia Tew • Galatians 5:13–14
“I’m free to do what I want, any old time…” Care to rock out with me? Mick’s not wrong. We are free to do whatever we want. The big question is, how do we steward this awesome gift? Paul gives us a great roadmap for this in Galatians 5:13-14. 1. “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters…” A calling is a strong urge toward a particular way of life or vocation. We should live in freedom like it’s our job- that’s awesome! 2. “...only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh…” Some translations take this out even further to say, don’t use this as an opportunity for selfishness. In other words, NO POWER TRIPS! 3. “...but serve on another through love.” We are asked to live like the one who gave us this freedom in the first place, Jesus! 4. “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.” The ultimate mic drop moment: Jesus loved us enough to die on a cross to secure our freedom. It’s not a complicated book of laws, it’s a singular act. “If you want to know how you ought to love your neighbor, ask yourself how much you love yourself. If you were to get into trouble or danger, you would be glad to have the love and help of all men. You do not need any book of instructions to teach you how to love your neighbor. All you have to do is to look into your own heart, and it will tell you how you ought to love your neighbor as yourself.” —Luther
Rotten Apples
November 15, 2022 • Olivia Tew • Galatians 5:7–9
Have you ever had to initiate a tough conversation or give hard feedback? It’s often a pretty uncomfortable situation. It’s always good to start with something positive, telling the person something they’ve excelled in. In Galatians 5:7 we jump right into this with Paul. “You were running well.” In some translations it says, “You were running the race nobly.” But, wait for it... What happened?! You see, there were false teachers in their midst. These teachers were convincing the people to forfeit their freedom in Christ and return to the law. You’re heard the old saying, “one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.” Do you know why? Rotting apples emit ethylene gas with more and more intensity the further past ripe they get. This gas sets off a chain reaction among the other, perfectly ripe apples, spoiling the whole lot! Keep that in mind as you read this next passage: "This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ]. A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church]." Galatians 5:8,9 Amplified Paul is letting us know here that ANY inclination away from the truth, however small it may be, is dangerous for the whole church. He lets us know this will not stand and these false teachers will be judged accordingly. He is taking this as a personal affront that anyone would try to come in and corrupt this young church. So, what does that mean for us today? Do we look out for each other, as believers, with this same amount of ferocity? This is not, of course, saying we will never disagree or have differing opinions. It’s rather constantly pointing us to look at the truth of the gospel. It should drive us to continually examine ourselves, asking the uncomfortable question: Am I allowing anything to corrupt my mind, life or view of God that could spread to other believers? I don't know about you, but I don’t want to be a rotten apple!
LIBERTY
November 14, 2022 • Olivia Tew • Galatians 5:1–6
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” -Patrick Henry Most Americans are very familiar with the end of this famous quote, Patrick Henry’s famous call to action just before the start of the American Revolution. Most of us have never observed the first part of that statement: "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?” That stops me in my tracks! You see, Henry is illustrating to the Virginia convention that the peace and comfort of the familiar is not a substitute for true freedom. It’s almost as if Henry took a page from Paul’s book in Galatians 5. To paraphrase, Paul is telling the church that if they choose to embrace the law, they must take all the Law and live entirely under its exacting standards. He essentially tells the church if they choose this, why did Christ even need to come and die? “Christ will not benefit you at all” (vs. 2b). He goes on to say, “You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace” (vs. 4). Can you imagine a world in which you’d choose to be alienated from Christ and His grace, choosing to be estranged from the one who’s given you such a gift? Yet often we choose the familiar, even at the expense of our own liberties. It’s easier, right? We wrap ourselves in habits, addictions, and familiar systems even when they bring us no joy, or worse, hurt us. Our chains become our constant companions. The Israelites did it in the desert, longing to return to Egypt. The Galatians did it. Even some of the early colonists here in America would rather pay crippling taxes and endure horrible mistreatment than step out into the unknown of starting a brand-new country. But listen to Paul’s words: “For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness…. what matters is faith working through love” (vs. 5, 6b). We are FREE from being slave to working our way to God’s good graces. We are FREE from having to earn our place with Him. We can leave the old familiar places and step out in faith because Jesus’ love has made a way.