JUST FRUIT

Sermon Summary (6/30/19) “Just Fruit” (Gal 5:13-25)

In 1890, Eugene Scheffelen released a hundred Starlings in Central Park just because they were mentioned in a Shakespeare play.  Did he know that a hundred years later that I’d have a dead Starling in my ceiling or that there would be a 100 million aggressive Starlings in America?  Certainly not.  Just one the nearly infinite unintended consequences that result from what we do.  The worst, of course, are those that affect our friends, our loved ones, our relationships. 

The pinnacle of Jesus’ teaching was relationships: The Royal Law, the Golden Rule, just about every teaching in the Sermon on the Mount involves enhancing our relationships,  Since just about every thing we do has consequences, how do we avoid that unintended harm that we see in our society daily?

Our passage for today is from Galatians, sometimes called the Magna Carta (the Declaration of Independence) of the Bible, freeing us from the law.  “You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters.” (Gal 5:13)  He adds, “only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but become slaves to one another.” 

If your highest calling is to serve one another, you are less likely to harm one another.  Paul goes on to say, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command; “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Gal 5:14) 

“Live by the Spirit.”  Living by the Spirit is cooperating with grace, accepting the suggestions of grace in our actions.  Living by the flesh is cooperating with the powers and principalities, the cosmic forces of darkness that permeate our world.  “If we are live by he Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Gal 5:25)

But here’s the deal, “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. “  Hear this, “against such there is no law!”  The fruit are the results of our choices that come from cooperating with the Spirit and there is no limit!  We can love as much as we want!  We can spread as much joy as we want!  We can be as kind as we can be!  We can exercise as much self-control as possible!  With such there are no unintended consequences!  Our relationships are enhanced by the fruit of the Spirit.

Here’s the thing.  God knows its hard to be loving, to be kind.  That’s why he has given us the Spirit.  “Walk by the Spirit.”  Your relationships will be better for it.  Amen.