David Bahn – Reflections

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 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. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

I have a friend who has and shares strong political opinions. Some of them dig deeply. Some of them are disrespectful. Some of them embarrass me. I have another friend who has strong political feelings on the other end of the spectrum. Maybe not as far leaning, but still strong. And public. I wish they would both keep quiet about their political views. I find common ground with both of them in certain aspects of their expressions. But I’m not convinced that the level of concerns rises to the threshold of needing to be so strident.

Both of these friends are Christians. They profess faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. They might even claim that their views are profoundly Christian and need to be aired. Maybe so. But it’s difficult to see how rancorous expressions of supposed (or real) Christian values actually adorn the Gospel with appropriate grace and truth.

Paul speaks of the works of the flesh. He lays out some pretty ugly expressions of sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I notice strife, dissensions, divisions, and fits of anger. These are unbecoming of a follower of Jesus.

Then come the expressions of the Holy Spirit’s work in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. How beautifully these attitudes and attributes adorn the gospel message of Jesus!

These fruit of the Spirit are so appropriate for Jesus’ followers because they reflect his character and nature. Jesus was a man full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Think of how he withstood the insults and torment of Pilate, the soldiers, and the Jewish leaders at the time of his arrest. Consider how he treated the lame, blind, ill, and broken people he encountered. Reflect on his faithfulness to his Father in heaven in all things. 

It may not be fair that the church today is known for being judgmental and arrogant. But we can do our part to reflect these characteristics of our God – even in a skeptical and hostile world. What better way can we echo Jesus’ perfect love than to endure insults if we have to and yet hold to a spirit of love, joy, and peace?

What shall we be known for? More important, how can we better let God be known as the God of perfect grace and life-giving truth?