Tuesday 7 July, 2020

13 You, 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. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For 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 you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and 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.

I read this scripture and felt immediately rebuked.  So many of these “cravings/attitudes” I can see in my life.

In this season of Covid19 in isolation and lockdown; I feel like there has been so much in my world trying to “salvage”, to plan, to prepare, to focus, to refocus, that I feel as though I have lost some of my “God’s eyes” in the middle of it.  My natural self wants to “bunker down”, to keep to the routine, prepare and rescue – but my Spirit wants to be free of the burden and to just step out and reach into peoples’ worlds bringing love and hope.

Galatians says: for me to “be completely free of self-indulgence”, “expressing love in all we do”, “abandon the cravings of your self-life”.

As we begin to head out of Covid isolation, I feel a fresh wind to chase after the things of God anew.  To not worry so much about what I can’t do, but what I can do.  They key I see in verse 16:  as I yield freely and fully to the dynamic life of the Holy Spirit – I can follow after Him completely.  He will lead and guide me.

Lord, thank you for your presence.  We are never alone because you are with us.  Thank you for your grace and mercy.  Lord we thank you for your love and protection during this season and pray that we all with have experienced a deeper walk with you as a result.  Amen.

Written by Ps. Sue Botta