The law was created to give us healthy boundaries. Imagine if we chose to live our lives in ways that produce good fruit. What if we made decisions that only produced the fruit of the Spirit? Let’s make the conscious decision to do things that will produce the good fruit of the Spirit because He is in us!
No law against doing good:
Firstly, today, let’s do things that produce love, unconditional love with unselfish concern for others! Secondly, today, let’s do things that produce joy! Thirdly, today, let’s do things that produce peace, inner peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding! Fourthly, today, let’s do things that produce patience as we wait upon the Lord, not as an ability but rather as an action! Fifthly, today, let’s do things that produce kindness! Sixthly, today, let’s do things that produce goodness! Seventhly, today, let’s do things that produce faithfulness! Eighthly, today, let’s do things that produce gentleness! Finally, today, let’s do things that produce self-control!
Today’s Verse of the Day:
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 AMP
As I look at today’s verse of the day and how it starts with “but”, it makes me wonder what had been seen before this.
‘When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ‘
Galatians 5:19-21
The Law is to keep us from the sinful nature:
Stepping back before we move forward with today’s verse of the day, we learn that we need to be the dads who do not follow the desires of our sinful nature which produce negative results which are very clear such as sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let’s be the dads who avoid this and turn from this so that we can inherit the Kingdom of God!
Today’s verse of the day on the other hand expresses how the laws that try to keep us from the desires of the sinful nature don’t apply when we choose to live our lives producing good fruit of the Holy Spirit! So let’s choose to live our lives to the fullest by producing the fruit of the Spirit in and through our lives!
So how can we choose to apply today’s verse of the day in order to live our lives to the fullest and be producing the fruit of the Spirit? By intentionally cultivating these traits in our lives, we can become the kind of dads God created and purposed us to be, positively impacting our families, communities, and the world around us.
Applications of Galatians 5:22-23 towards being the dads God created and purposes for us to be for the sake of our wives, kids, and world:
- Love: Show unconditional love to your wife and children, demonstrating care, empathy, and support in all circumstances.
- Joy: Cultivate a spirit of joy and optimism in your family, creating an environment where everyone feels uplifted and encouraged.
- Peace: Seek to establish a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere at home, resolving conflicts with wisdom, patience, and understanding.
- Patience: Exercise patience with your children, understanding that they are growing and learning. Show grace when mistakes are made and provide guidance with a gentle spirit.
- Kindness: Treat your family with kindness and respect, offering acts of service and encouraging words that build them up.
- Goodness: Set a positive example for your children through your actions, displaying integrity, honesty, and moral uprightness.
- Faithfulness: Be faithful and committed to your wife and children, prioritizing their needs, and being reliable in your words and promises.
- Gentleness: Practice gentleness in your interactions, using your strength to protect, nurture, and guide your family in a tender and compassionate manner.
- Self-control: Exercise self-control in your emotions and actions, modeling discipline and self-restraint for your children to follow.
- Display the Fruit of the Spirit consistently: Strive to manifest all the qualities mentioned above consistently and in balance. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help you grow in these attributes and exhibit them in your role as a father.
