Reprinted from ec magazine. © 2011 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Used by permission.

Love Others

Posted by Melissa

Even when you’re very excited, it’s not uncommon to lose that excitement after awhile. As time progresses, we can get fidgety and bored.

Unfortunately, far too many of us experience this in our relationship with God. After the “newness” wears off, it’s hard to maintain the same level of excitement.

Today’s passage is an important reminder and warning: do not lose sight of the magnitude of God’s gift to you.

Read 1 John 3:13-15, thinking carefully about verse 14.

Why, according to John, should we expect the world to hate us?

When have you experienced the world’s hatred? Explain.

According to these verses, how do we know “we have passed from death to life”?

What does John say about those who do not love?

Has your love toward others grown cold? Why or why not?

Many Christians think of salvation in terms of a one-time experience. We pray a prayer, say the magic words, and God gives us salvation. Then, we think we just stick that insurance policy in our back pocket and live however we want to.

Unfortunately for such people, the Bible presents a very different message. Christians are continually reminded and warned of their need to be attentive to the gift of salvation that we have through Jesus. Today’s passage says that we who have a relationship with Christ have passed from death to life—and a good indicator of our salvation is the love we have for others. It’s time to take a hard look at yourself. What does the way you love others say about your relationship with Christ?

Do You Love Other Believers

Posted by Melissa

There is no single verse in the whole Bible that troubles me more than when Jesus says that if we love Him, we will obey what He commands (John 14:15). It presents a stark and troubling reality: it does not matter one bit what I say about how much I love God. What really matters is my obedience.

Today’s passage makes one very important element of obedience clear: we are to love other believers.

Read 1 John 3:7-12. Go back and focus on verse 10.

What principle is at work in verse 9? If you had to summarize that verse for another person, what would you say?

According to this passage, it should be as plain as day who is a child of God and who is not a child of God. What are some examples of things that are “right” in God’s eyes?

What are the two “sides” that John presents in this passage?

If you had to take a long hard look at your actions, whose side are you on? What do your actions show?

If you had to list the loving things you have done for your fellow Christians recently, what would those be?

Anyone who claims to be a Christian—a follower of Jesus—must walk in the way that He did. That means that our lives look like His. That we care about the things He cares about and do the things He thinks are important. That’s what being a follower is.

In this passage, we’re called to holiness in the form of love. That’s a key theme in Scripture: God is looking for followers who will obey Him. The Scripture makes it clear: the person who really belongs to God does what is right. And according to Scripture, loving your fellow Christian is the right thing to do.

What Does Your Life Say

Posted by Melissa

What identifies Christians? What adjective would most people use to describe Christians? Good? Disagreeable? Are we known as hypocrites? How would most people describe our churches?

Let’s flip the question a bit. How did Jesus want His followers to be identified? According to John 13:33-35, Jesus wanted His followers to be identified by their—wait for it—love.

After that last meal with His disciples, He gave them a new command: love one another. Easy enough, right? The next sentence, however, raises the bar: “Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.” That is a far more specific definition of love than we are used to. The kind of love Jesus calls His followers to is self-sacrificing and considers the other person first. Does that describe how you love others?

This week’s devotions are focused on love. We live in an incredibly self-centered, decadent, and arrogant society. Self-sacrificing love is not a virtue that often makes its way into the news. What is worse is that the kind of love Jesus has called His followers to is often not clearly apparent in our churches—or the lives of those who call themselves believers.

Jesus wants us to love the way that He does. It’s how the world will know we belong to Him. Is that kind of love apparent in your life?

Brag A Little

Posted by Melissa

I had been practicing and thought my ping-pong skills were pretty impressive. So, when my friend challenged me to a game, I asked, “Do you really think you can handle it?” That day, I learned not to brag about my ping-pong skills. My friend never told me he was a ping-pong master!

As you read Galatians 6:11-16, notice what Paul said of himself in verse 14.

God gave the Jews the sign of circumcision as an outward sign of their covenant with Him. Why do you think the Jews would boast in that outward sign? What was the problem with their boasting?

What did Paul mean when he said that “circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing” (v. 15)?

Why do you think Paul was so emphatic about only boasting in the cross of Christ (v. 14)?

What do you think boasting in the cross of Christ sounds like? What would it look like if you did it?

Do you know anyone who always boasts in Christ rather than him or herself?

How quick are you to talk about Christ? Where are you when you are likely to talk about Christ?

Where are you when you tend to shut up about Christ?

What do you brag about most often? Some of us are always ready to brag about ourselves, to push ourselves forward, to make ourselves sound important. Not Paul. Instead, he wanted to brag about the cross of Christ. So should we. As believers, we should always be ready to brag on the One who is the Creator of the world, the Savior of all humanity. Today, ask God to fill your heart with His wonder and cause you to think and talk of Him in your conversations.

Sow and Reap

Posted by Melissa

When a farmer plants corn, he doesn’t harvest wheat. You can only harvest what you’ve actually planted. And believe it or not, that principle holds true for our spiritual lives as well.

Read Galatians 6:6-10, paying particular attention to verse 7.

Sowing refers to planting seeds. Reaping refers to harvesting the resulting food. What are some good seeds you are planting with how you live your life? What harvest do you think you will reap from those seeds?

What are some bad seeds you’re planting? What harvest do you see yourself reaping from those?

Why do you think Christians sometimes “get tired of doing good” (v. 9)?

What are some seeds you should be planting that you are not?

What are some seeds you need to quit planting?

We like to think of God as a loving Father who wants us to be happy, healthy, and wealthy, but that’s not the total picture of God. He gives us freedom to act, but our actions always have consequences. We may not suffer immediately for breaking one of God’s commandments. However, in the long run, every one of us will experience the consequences of the choices we’ve made.

You can choose to sin—even as a believer—and think it doesn’t matter or that you’re getting away with it. But your sinful choices have consequences. Spend some time today talking with God about the choices you’re making. If you need to, ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him what good seed you need to be planting. Determine to do all He shows you.

Restore

Posted by Melissa

Picture this. Your best friend falls into some sin that is damaging to him and painful to you. What do you do?

You could write him off. If he has no more concern for you than this, then you just won’t bother with him any more.

Or, you could get angry and let him know it. Tell him you are not going to let him get away with this. Or, you could ignore it. You would rather have the friendship than a nasty disagreement over this sin.

Read Galatians 6:1-5. Really think about verse 1.

Look back at the three possible reactions to your friend, above. What is wrong with each of them?

What do you think it means to “restore” a person who has sinned? How do you do that?

What does it really mean to have a “gentle spirit” when you deal with someone who has failed spiritually?

Do you have a gentle spirit? Why or why not?

How does a person develop a gentle spirit? Explain.

In what ways could you fall into sin when you are trying to help a friend who has a sin problem?

We are all going to fail at times. When your friends sin, they need to know that they’re loved and forgiven. They need the chance to make things right. If you have a Christian friend right now who is caught in a sin, pray that God will give you the right words to say to restore him or her.

Holy Spirit Fruit

Posted by Melissa

What does an apple tree produce? Apples. That’s why we call it an apple tree. Will an apple tree ever suddenly begin to grow coconuts? Of course not. That’s just not its nature.

People are born with a sin nature. However, unlike the apple tree, people can actually change their nature. When we experience the transforming love of Christ, repent of our sinfulness, and trust Jesus for salvation, we’re actually given a new nature. And, because of that, we produce a different kind of fruit.

Read Galatians 5:22-26. Pay special attention to verses 22-23.

Based on these verses, how do you recognize a person whose life is controlled by the Holy Spirit?

Does this passage mean that you should try as hard as you can to be loving, joyful, peaceful, and so forth? Why or why not?

What is the difference between trying hard to produce the fruit and living by the Holy Spirit so that He produces the fruit in you? Explain.

When you take an honest look at your life, what kind of fruit do you see? What would your parents say? Your best friends? Your cabin mates?

When does your life tend to produce the most Holy Spirit fruit?

When does your life tend to lack the fruit of the Spirit?

Some people are angry all the time. Other people are never happy. People can be impatient, unkind, faithless, and self-indulgent. None of that is what the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. When your life is controlled by the Holy Spirit, you will see His fruit ebbing out of you. It may start with a little joy. Soon you will find yourself growing in patience, goodness, and genuine love. The key is to live by the Spirit. The question is, are you?

Racing In The Wrong Direction

Posted by Melissa

Are you a fan of “The Amazing Race”? If so, you know that teams can get so lost racing around the world. A team may be driving furiously to reach the next stop only to discover that they’ve been driving in the wrong direction. The teams who win are the ones that can locate a guide—someone who knows the area and is willing to show them how to get around.

Life is like that, sometimes. You can drive as fast as you like, but if you have no guide to lead you in the right direction, you end up driving the wrong way!

Read Galatians 5:16-21. Focus on verse 16.

What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”?

The passage contrasts walking by the Spirit and doing the works of the flesh. Which is easier for you? Explain.

Think about the list of fleshly works in verses 19-21. Which of those pull you down the most? Why?

If you’re a Christian and have the Holy Spirit living within you, why do you still struggle with works of the flesh? Explain.

What are some practical things you can do to walk by the Spirit day by day?

It is so easy to go full speed . . . and completely miss what God has called you to do. Thankfully, God has given us a guide—His Holy Spirit. You may struggle with anger. Jealousy may characterize your relationships. You may struggle with sexual sin, drunkenness, pride, or some other sinful desire. As today’s Scripture passage points out, all of that is of the flesh, part of our sin nature. But, God has given you a promise, which is also clearly outlined in today’s verses: you can overcome the flesh when you walk by His Spirit. You have been set free from sin. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in that freedom!

Free For What

Posted by Melissa

Read Galatians 5:13-15.

After the death of her mother-in-law, a woman was forced to care for her husband’s aged father. He was a feeble old man with palsy that caused him to shake. He couldn’t get food to his mouth without spilling it all over her clean tablecloth and waxed dining room floor. The mess infuriated her. Finally, she relegated her father-in-law to the kitchen where he ate alone. Despite the old man’s discomfort, she was pleased he no longer caused a mess. Her family could eat in peace.

The woman could have treated her father-in-law with kindness and compassion. Instead, she used her freedom to treat him selfishly.

Paul first wrote the Scripture you read today to the Galatians, reminding them that it was possible to misuse the freedom Christ had given them. We have not been set free from sin in order to give into our desires or to live selfishly. Instead, as Paul pointed out, the freedom we’ve been given as believers is the freedom to love others—and out of that love, to serve others.

Consider the freedom you have—freedom in how you use your time, money, and words, as well as freedom from sin. Do you see your freedom as license to do what you want? Or do you see it as an opportunity to serve others in Jesus’ name?

The truth is, you have been set free. Free to serve. Free to love. Free to make your life about more than your own selfish desires. You are free. Use your freedom well!

Choose Life

Posted by Melissa

We are all familiar with the image of a street preacher standing on a box screaming about eternal death and damnation for those who do not repent. It may be hard to hear that way, but those words are true.

Read Romans 6:19-23. Focus on verse 23.

What does Paul mean when he says the Romans offered parts of themselves?

What fruit do you think the Romans were ashamed of? (See v. 21.)

Why do you suppose Paul says that fruit led to death?

What does it mean to be enslaved to God?

What fruit or characteristics do you believe come from Christ’s righteousness?

Do you see any of those things in your life? Why or why not?

What are the wages of sin?

What is the gift of God?

Have you received God’s gift?

When I was growing up, I often heard verse 23 used to scare us into obeying God. It was such a heavy verse, pointing out so blatantly that all sin really brings us is death.

But as I have grown, I have learned that this verse actually expresses God’s love. Because God loves me, He has given me eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. He has provided salvation, forgiveness, and His Holy Spirit to guide me to make daily choices that honor Him and point to eternal life. When I do make choices that lead to death (every time I sin), His Spirit convicts me so I can seek repentance. God has provided a way for me to choose life each day and for eternity. Listen to the Holy Spirit as you go about your day today. Choose life!

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