“He who practices the Truth comes to the light” (John 3:21).
A room may look elegant and romantic by the flicker of candlelight, but expose it to the brightness of day and all inconsistencies become evident. The cracking paint, the peeling wallpaper, the dingy carpet. What low light masks; the sun’s rays accentuate.
If we are truly children of Light, we need to be comfortable when truth reveals our own personal imperfections. Since Holy Spirit convicts in order to shed Light, not to condemn, we can welcome His spotlight. After all the limelight is for Him, not us anyway.
So today, as we step into His Light, let’s shed light on a few of the words in Galatians 5:19-21. These “deeds of the flesh” are the very opposite of those found in “fruit-bearers of the Spirit”.
Together, let’s prayerfully sit under the Light of His Truth and allow Him to reveal areas of fleshliness which are still prevalent within us. Pay special attention to the Greek translations beside the words as found in Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.
Impurity – akatharsia – “in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living” – (profligate – adjective: recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources).
Am I recklessly extravagant or wasteful with the resources that He has lavished upon me? Do I seek for ways to share or am I concerned with my own wants and desires?
Witchcraft – pharmakeia – “the use or the administering of drugs, poisoning or sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.”
Do I depend upon my medications more than upon my God? Has faith in (or dependance on) my medication crossed the line into idolatry?
Enmities – echthra – “enmity” (noun: the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something).
Am I hostile to viewpoints that do not coincide with my own? Do I spend time exposing the faults of others rather than praying for a loving solution?
Outbursts of anger – thymos – “passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again or glow, ardor, the wine of passion, inflaming wine (which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength)
Am I easily angered or offended? Am I carrying a grudge? Am I surprised how quickly my emotions can be enflamed?
Disputes –eritheia – “electioneering or intriguing for office apparently, in the New Testament a courting distinction, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts partisanship, fractiousness”
Is my political opinion aired with divisiveness? Do I pray for my leaders?
Do I seek to be noticed personally?
Envying – phthonos – “envy” (noun: a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck).
Am I discontent with my lot in life? Am I resentful of what others have?
Ouch!
And these are only six of the fifteen listed by Paul (Galatians 5:19-21)! To see the rest, do the interlinear study on these verses. These are definitely not the traits of children of Light. Yet, how often do we excuse and justify ourselves for these same perspectives?
“Father, You have revealed attitudes within me which are not suitable for a true Spirit-walker (Galatians 5:22-23). Forgive me. I desire to turn from each, and walk toward You. This is the only way that we can truly see renewal come to our nation (2 Chronicles 7:14). May I live in Your Light, so that You can be the One glorified (Matthew 5:16). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
