For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Each day it seems that I begin with a zeal to accomplish great things, but before I can blink an eye, the day seems to be over. To be revealed, there are mornings when I simply ask God: Am I being effective for You?
As Paul writes to the church at Galatia, he is wondering if he has been effective with the church. The church was wavering in their belief of salvation by faith alone (Gal. 2:16). Paul takes this very personally. Paul writes: “I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.” Gal. 4:11.
Brothers and sisters, I do not want to come to the end of my life and find that I have labored over things in vain.
I know the key to effectiveness is to live out a life of faith in Jesus Christ. This faith life understands and embraces the teaching of Paul in Galatians 5.
We know the following:
- Faith in Christ Jesus frees us from self-effort, 5:12. We have been saved by grace.
- Faith in Christ Jesus frees us from our sinful past, 4:4.
- Faith in Christ Jesus frees us to focus on serving others, 5:14.
- Faith in Christ Jesus frees us to now serve our creator as we were intended to do under the Holy Spirit’s direction, 5:16.
The evidence of such a life is given in chapter 5:
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.
Let’s make this personal. What is the fruit that our lives are bearing this day?
Be assured, the fruit of 5:22-23 does not just happen because we are saved. Each day we are called to both submit to the Holy Spirit and to be led by the Holy Spirit. When we submit and when we are led by the Holy Spirit, we keep in step with the Holy Spirit (5:25) which means we are truly being effective for the one who saved us.
This is what I want to do every day. This is how I want to be remembered. I want to be know as a man filled with the Spirit and empty of me.
Father help each who read this blog to be submitted and led by the Holy Spirit today and every day!!!