The book of Galatians speaks over and over again about being freed from the law.  Chapter 5 turns a corner though.  Since we are free how are we to live?  Let’s look at the passage together today.  

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 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 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. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Here at Advent we are in the middle of a series talking about the fruit of the Spirit.  The point we have been stressing each week is that the more we are connected to Jesus the more fruit naturally flows out of our life.  The more we rely upon ourselves the more we have a tendency to indulge in the flesh.  Our independence from the law should steer us to dependence upon Jesus.  When we depend upon Jesus that is when we are truly free and not a slave to our own passions and desires.  May we all more and more lives lives that are dependent on Him and share from the overflow of His love in our lives. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave