Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

January 10
Saturday


THE OLD
AND THE NEW

READ:
Galatians 5:16-23
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If anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation;
old things have passed
away; behold, all things
have become new.
__2 Corinthians 5:17
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Typical resolutions in January are to lose weight, exercise more, spend less time at work and more time with family__maybe even stop chatting on the cell phone while driving.

It's not surprising that we want to change the things in our lives that we're unhappy about--even though most New Year's resolutions are kept for no more than 3 weeks.

What if you were to ask God what He wants you to change, improve, or begin this year? He might tell you to:

. Demonstrate more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life, which is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23).

. "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who... persecute you" (Matt. 5:44).

. "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

. "Be content with such things as you have" (Heb. 13:5).

. "Walk according to His commandments" (2 John 1:6).

As believers and new creations, we can be free from old patterns and failures. We must ask God to help us live each day in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then we can shed the old and embrace the new (2 Cor. 5:17). __Cindy Hess Kasper
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````````````````How can we live to please the Lord?```````````````
`````````````````By knowing what He says to do``````````````````
```````````````And trusting in the Spirit's strength`````````````````
`````````````To make us into someone new. __Sper```````````````
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Resolutions are easier to keep when you rely on God.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Galatians 5:16-23*********

16 I say then: Walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against
the Spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh; and these
are contrary to one another,
so that you do not do the
things that you wish, 18 But
if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the
flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication
uncleanness, lewdness,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions,
heresies, 21 envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and
the like; of which I tell you
beforehand, just as i also
told you in time past, that
those who practice such
things will not inherit the
kingdom of God. 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness,
self-control. Against such
there is no law.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

According to Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe, that focus of the book
of Galatians is the danger of spiritual and religious legalism. for
that reason, Wiersbe titled his commentary on Galatians Be Free.
It expresses the dynamic contrast between the slavery and bondage
of legalism as opposed to the freedom and liberty that we have
in Christ. It is not a liberty to be abused (which would be making
freedom in Christ into a license to sin), but it is a freedom to be
celebrated, for "if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed"
(John 8:36). __Bill Crowder