Are We Different?

Galatians 5:19-26 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

If you couldn’t tell people you were a follower of the Lord Jesus, would they be able to tell that you were by how you lived your life? Would they be able to see the fruit of the Spirit in your life? Would they say that you are a peaceful and patient person who is kind to others, full of goodness and joy, gentle and self-controlled, while always being faithful?

Perhaps our churches have become full of people professing the faith in Christ, but not living out the faith through their works. In turn, this has caused members of society to conclude that religious people are no different than they are because they don’t see a difference. To the modern secularist, religious people might be worse if they live like everyone else does while claiming to have the answers and access to God. I’m sure you have heard the accusations of ‘holier than thou’ and followers of the Lord being called ‘hypocrites’.

Are we different? Are we living for the Lord or are we indulging in the works of the flesh? If we live in the Spirit, we must also keep in step with the Spirit. Can we honestly claim to be followers of the Lord if we are not following in His steps?

The apostle Paul is telling us that Christ has crucified the flesh and it’s passions and desires in those who belong to Him, so we must have no part of such sins. Instead, we must be different. We must life for Him and walk with Him and bear the fruits of the Spirit.