Comments on: February 16 / Galatians 5:13-26 http://www.westcobbchurch.com/rooted/february-16-galatians-513-26 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:51:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dianne Gay http://www.westcobbchurch.com/rooted/february-16-galatians-513-26/comment-page-1#comment-307 Dianne Gay Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:55:51 +0000 http://www.westcobbchurch.com/blog/?p=544#comment-307 vs. 5 - If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. In our marriage classes we use this verse to show couples how they can get stuck in the rut of selfishness, nagging, and blaming each other for anything and everything. This is a very dangerous rut to get stuck in. It does lead to destruction of what God intended for marriages (and relationships in general). Instead, we should be especially careful to put that "fruit of the Spirit" into practice with our spouse. If we love them, express joy around and for them, behave peacefully around them, have patience with them, show gentleness and kindness to them, are faithful in our commitment to them, approach our relationship with them with gentleness, and practice self-control when it comes to our "wants and demands" - then imagine the difference it would make in marriages, in our homes, in the community, in the world! vs. 5 – If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

In our marriage classes we use this verse to show couples how they can get stuck in the rut of selfishness, nagging, and blaming each other for anything and everything. This is a very dangerous rut to get stuck in. It does lead to destruction of what God intended for marriages (and relationships in general).

Instead, we should be especially careful to put that “fruit of the Spirit” into practice with our spouse. If we love them, express joy around and for them, behave peacefully around them, have patience with them, show gentleness and kindness to them, are faithful in our commitment to them, approach our relationship with them with gentleness, and practice self-control when it comes to our “wants and demands” – then imagine the difference it would make in marriages, in our homes, in the community, in the world!

]]> By: Janette http://www.westcobbchurch.com/rooted/february-16-galatians-513-26/comment-page-1#comment-306 Janette Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:02:57 +0000 http://www.westcobbchurch.com/blog/?p=544#comment-306 "You were called to be free" is how my reading starts today. I was reminded of how I have heard non Christians say “you have to be so goody goody to be a Christian” or that there are too many rules and restrictions to being a Christian. In reality, Christ gives freedom not restriction. This freedom is for the soul and the psyche and can be found no where else. Following Him is not just being good or following rules. When you choose Christ, you do start saying no to what you might want to do but, another way to say it is you say no to selfishness. Living out the fruit of the Spirit will cause un-believers to notice..."why are you so happy?" or to ask in a bad situation, "don't you get frazzled?" They are seeing the fruit that they don't have and they wonder about it. This is our chance to point them to the fruit bowl that truly satisfies. I can't imagine life with out the blessing of the Spirit and His work in my life. There would be no good fruit with out Him. Lord, help me to stay in step with you and to guide those you put in my life in your ways...the way of freedom. Gotta run, I have some big green buttons to push! :) “You were called to be free” is how my reading starts today. I was reminded of how I have heard non Christians say “you have to be so goody goody to be a Christian” or that there are too many rules and restrictions to being a Christian. In reality, Christ gives freedom not restriction. This freedom is for the soul and the psyche and can be found no where else. Following Him is not just being good or following rules. When you choose Christ, you do start saying no to what you might want to do but, another way to say it is you say no to selfishness.
Living out the fruit of the Spirit will cause un-believers to notice…”why are you so happy?” or to ask in a bad situation, “don’t you get frazzled?” They are seeing the fruit that they don’t have and they wonder about it. This is our chance to point them to the fruit bowl that truly satisfies.
I can’t imagine life with out the blessing of the Spirit and His work in my life. There would be no good fruit with out Him. Lord, help me to stay in step with you and to guide those you put in my life in your ways…the way of freedom. Gotta run, I have some big green buttons to push! :)

]]> By: Kirk Rogers http://www.westcobbchurch.com/rooted/february-16-galatians-513-26/comment-page-1#comment-305 Kirk Rogers Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:15:41 +0000 http://www.westcobbchurch.com/blog/?p=544#comment-305 "In step with the Spirit" jumped out for me. I am too often out of step with Him. It's so easy to fall away. Even with God's help, it seems that we tend downward. I think we struggle to do the things we think we should do. But it seems in these verses, that to live by, be led by, to be in step with the Spirit of God are not so much good behaviors as they are close relationship. If you spend a great deal of time around a close friend, you'll catch yourself using phrases that they use, or gestures that they are noted for. I think God rubs off on us when we seek out his company. Time in the Word and time in prayer and time with Him and honest gratitude will probably do more to change us than all of our best efforts to 'get better'. It's easy to feel guilty about failing, but it's probably better to trust the One who already has a plan that accounts for my failings than to bemoan them and still show no improvement. “In step with the Spirit” jumped out for me. I am too often out of step with Him. It’s so easy to fall away. Even with God’s help, it seems that we tend downward. I think we struggle to do the things we think we should do. But it seems in these verses, that to live by, be led by, to be in step with the Spirit of God are not so much good behaviors as they are close relationship. If you spend a great deal of time around a close friend, you’ll catch yourself using phrases that they use, or gestures that they are noted for. I think God rubs off on us when we seek out his company. Time in the Word and time in prayer and time with Him and honest gratitude will probably do more to change us than all of our best efforts to ‘get better’. It’s easy to feel guilty about failing, but it’s probably better to trust the One who already has a plan that accounts for my failings than to bemoan them and still show no improvement.

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