ICS Daily Devotions
Walk in the Spirit of Peace
Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
The flesh is the sum of appetites, desires, wishes and needs which purpose is the satisfaction of self. Everything in our life that wants to live independent from God and does not bow to God.
We need to remind ourselves that we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires in order for us to enjoy the peaceful relationship in our lives. It means we are dead to the fleshly desire and deny it from fulfilling its passions and lusts by walking in the Spirit
Romans 12:17-18 (NKJV) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men
The flesh would want an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth when evil and injustice is done towards us. If we are not careful then contentious thoughts will develop in our minds regarding what the person has done or said to us. The devil will play into our emotions and we will become very irrational in our minds. We will not process very well and we will be selective in our hearing. Therefore, when we walk in the Spirit, we will pursue peace with the people who have offended us. The Bible says that it is dependent on us not the Lord because He has empowered us to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desire of the flesh!
When there is betrayal in a marriage, the period of restoration will take years to restore the lost trust. The loss of trust will stir up anger, hatred and contention. There will be a lot of emotional turmoil in the person who has been betrayed. The other party will attempt to justify and be contentious about the whole event. There will be no peace in the family. The fruit of the Holy Spirit will help us during this time to exercise self-control to maintain the peace and to acknowledge that the healing of the soul will take time. There will be many instances where exercising self-control will bring about peace.
The commandment given to us, to love our neighbors as ourselves helps us to live peaceably with all men because God has given us the ability to do it. Therefore, if we have issue with one another, any hint of division in the family, church, cell group or between the marriage partner then God expects us to deal with it as matured believers.
Sermon Series: Peace – Fruit of the Holy Spirit
