Next few days we are going to focus on this scripture.  It is a little long but speaks volumes on a practical reality of what it means to LIVE in true freedom.  Verses 23-24 are what people always focus on and we will look at each element over the coming days but wanted to first put in context what Paul is telling us.  We hear the word freedom a lot and people interpret it in lots of ways.  Freedom is the basis of free will and our choice of how we live in freedom determines our life.  After carefully reading the scripture I will say more.

Galatians 5:13 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.”[b] 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[c] 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.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

So much of our walk with Christ is dealt with here.  I want to make one point.  We have freedom to choose.  Our choices have consequences.  We can choose to think we know more than God and choose the acts of the flesh (vs. 19-21 sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.) or choose God’s plan and experience the fruit (vs. 22-23 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ) God has for us.  I wish I could say that I always listen to God and walk by the leading of the Spirit but I can’t.  It’s a lifelong struggle that I fail at regularly.  But, when I do, the fullness of life is mine.  In the following days I will walk through the fruit and amazing times in my life where I experienced each of this fruit.