No Law Against These Things

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Scripture

Gal. 5:22   By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Observation

For those who are filled with and living by the Spirit there is a natural life which reveals the very nature of Christ in everyday behaviors. Reflecting Christ becomes natural and is revealed in love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, etc. There is no need to dictate these behaviors or list them by some kind of law. They become the norm for a Spirit-filled Christ follower.

At the same time, when one is living in this way there is no need to fear. No law will be broken for there is no law against these behaviors. This is the desire for God for all of humanity — to live a life that is reflective of the Image.

Application

I know that many of us lived through a very legalistic period of Christianity. So much of what we did or didn’t do had something to do with what was perceived to be Church law. I know that I lived in fear of punishment for doing things wrong. I wanted so badly to be a “good girl.” But living in fear of the law or rules is not what God intended for his people. Instead this scripture is pointing us to that higher law — to that place where we are challenged to live like Christ. He becomes the higher standard for our lives.

The beauty of reflecting Christ is that we will find no law, either civil or religious, discriminating against these behaviors. The challenge is for us to live into this new life in Christ. Sometimes it’s easier (or, at least we think so) to live by a set of rules, rather than living by Christ. Living by Christ requires a close relationship with him on a daily basis. It also requires being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in, what may be, difficult circumstances. The law can’t always give us an answer — but Christ can. Sometimes laws can be wrong — but the Spirit is not. That is the challenge for a Christ-follower, to lived filled with the fruit of the Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, I am challenged to live filled by you today. Amen.

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