OCTOBER 2, 2024
READ: Galatians 5 (Focus vs.13-26)
MEMORY VERSE
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23
BACKGROUND
Following a challenging tour in Afghanistan, Scott, a sergeant in the British Army, fell apart. He remembered: “I was in a dark place.” But when he “discovered Jesus and began following Him,” his life changed radically.
Now he seeks to share the love of Christ with others, especially veterans with whom he competes in the Invictus Games, an international event for wounded and injured members and veterans of the armed forces.
For Scott, reading the Bible, praying, and listening to worship music grounds him before going to the Games. God then helps him “to reflect the character of Jesus and show kindness, gentleness, and grace” to the fellow veterans competing there.
Scott names here some of the fruit of the Spirit that the apostle Paul wrote about to the believers in Galatia. They struggled under the influence of false teachers, so Paul sought to encourage them to stay true to God and His grace, being “led by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:18).
By doing so, they would then produce the Spirit’s fruit—“love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (vv. 22-23).
With God’s Spirit living within us, we too will burst forth with the Spirit’s goodness and love. We too will show gentleness and kindness to those who surround us.
By: Amy Boucher Pye
INSIGHT
In Galatians, Paul warned against the teaching that gentile believers in Jesus needed to obey the law revealed to Moses.
This was one of the most contentious issues in early communities of believers; it was difficult for many to fathom gentile believers not being required to adhere to the requirements of the law as inspired by God (such as circumcision; see Galatians 5:6).
But Paul argued that the law had a temporary teaching role in God’s plan (3:23-25). It had no power to overcome sin. Christ frees and empowers believers to be “led by the Spirit” (5:18) in a life of love (vv. 22-25).
By: Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
How can God help you to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit? What practices can help you to stay in tune with Him?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“With God’s Spirit living within us, we too will burst forth with the Spirit’s goodness and love…”
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE*
“…So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26
“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi
“A kind, courteous Christian is the most powerful argument that can be produced in favor of Christianity.” Ellen G. White
PRAYER
“Life-giving God, thank You for Your Spirit. Please produce within me fruit for others to enjoy.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“THE JESUS WAY” Phil Wickham
If you curse me, then I will bless you
If you hurt me, I will forgive
And if you hate me, then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way
If you’re helpless, I will defend you
And if you’re burdened, I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless, then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way
I follow Jesus
I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure
He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
If you strike me, I will embrace you
And if you chain me, I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me, my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way
I follow Jesus
I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure
He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
And I choose surrender
I choose to love
Oh, God my Savior, You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness
I choose grace
I choose to worship, no matter what I face
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I follow Jesus
I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure
He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
I follow Jesus…
Oh, I choose the Jesus way
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
ROMANS 15
