Book: Galatians

What is your “one thing”? The headline that defines your life. We can probably name some really bad, truly wrong headlines that seem to define life for many people. “Might makes right,” or “All that matters is who wins.” These are counterfeit gospels. But then there are good things. Maybe great things. Even essential things. But if they take top billing in what defines our identity and purpose in life, they are counterfeit gospels.

The gospel is not just a list of beliefs about something that happened 2,000 years ago. It’s the controlling narrative that makes sense of everything that’s ever happened, and everything that will happen. It is the constant flowing river underneath every commandment, every prophetic message, every story of conflict between good and evil, and every hope expressed to God by a people crying out for deliverance.

What do Moses, Jesus, and a servant compelled to go one mile have in common? The willingness to accept the task assigned. This is meekness.

Before God’s Spirit can build us up in the fruit of love, joy, and peace, he must first break us down–whether our problem is the self-assured pride of will-worship, or the careless disregard for how we conduct our lives. God sows the seed, but God also tills the soil. And he can do remarkable things if we will let Him.

God will take your faith that wanes and give you back a faith that sustains. Part of the fruit of the Spirit series.

Part 5 in the “Fruit of the Spirit” series.

My God is “endlessly patient” (Exodus 34:6 MSG). And Christians are called to live out of that story. Patience for the long journey. Patience in the face of persecution. A patient trust in God’s timing.

Part 3 of the fruit of the Spirit series.

We are forced to change our understanding of “joy” to be something bigger, deeper, and longer lasting than “happy feelings.” What did Christ have on the cross? What did Paul have in prison? What did the church have in persecution? An abiding sense that the greatest gift of happiness has come and dwells within you. It means the search is over.