Galatians 5:16-17b NLT
Living with a double standard has always been a source of contention for those who have to deal with it. We are quick to fly in with blazing sword (or tongue) when we see an injustice based on a double standard – which is commendable, but can also be laughable…
What? You don’t think so? Well, let me ask you this. Have many times have you been on the road behind someone who is driving less than desirably (by your standards) and when you finally get the opportunity to get around them, you discover they’re talking on a cell phone or even worse - texting? And from the so-called safety of your moving vehicle with the windows rolled up, you react with something like, “Quit texting before you kill somebody!” or “Hang up and drive!” and then YOUR cell phone rings with a call or buzzes with a text… and you answer it because after all, you know how to drive and talk on the phone, right? Double standard.
Or, as Christians, we’re quick to spout off about those who follow the desires of their sinful nature according to Galatians 5…sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, wild parties, idolatry, sorcery… "Why, Henry, that’s devil worship! Scripture is clear that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!!" That’s what it states alright - a clear standard – however, that passage in its entirety reads, 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Imagine that! Hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and envy right smack dab in the middle between sorcery and drunkenness… oh, my!
There is only one standard. One God. One Way. God said through Jeremiah in chapter 32, verse 39, And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them… One heart – no division, no dissension…
Is there no hope then? Yes, there is always hope in God through Christ our Lord! Our text (Galatians 5) in the New King James version tells us if we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Go on down a little in the chapter and we find, 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Continuing on, the good news is that 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
One God. One Way – Jesus. There is only one standard. His. Pure and simple and undefiled by our double standards.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to walk in the Spirit, so that we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. Let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives so we may walk according to Your divine plan – in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
Living with a double standard has always been a source of contention for those who have to deal with it. We are quick to fly in with blazing sword (or tongue) when we see an injustice based on a double standard – which is commendable, but can also be laughable…
What? You don’t think so? Well, let me ask you this. Have many times have you been on the road behind someone who is driving less than desirably (by your standards) and when you finally get the opportunity to get around them, you discover they’re talking on a cell phone or even worse - texting? And from the so-called safety of your moving vehicle with the windows rolled up, you react with something like, “Quit texting before you kill somebody!” or “Hang up and drive!” and then YOUR cell phone rings with a call or buzzes with a text… and you answer it because after all, you know how to drive and talk on the phone, right? Double standard.
Or, as Christians, we’re quick to spout off about those who follow the desires of their sinful nature according to Galatians 5…sexual immorality, lustful pleasures, drunkenness, wild parties, idolatry, sorcery… "Why, Henry, that’s devil worship! Scripture is clear that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God!!" That’s what it states alright - a clear standard – however, that passage in its entirety reads, 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Imagine that! Hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and envy right smack dab in the middle between sorcery and drunkenness… oh, my!
There is only one standard. One God. One Way. God said through Jeremiah in chapter 32, verse 39, And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their children after them… One heart – no division, no dissension…
Is there no hope then? Yes, there is always hope in God through Christ our Lord! Our text (Galatians 5) in the New King James version tells us if we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Go on down a little in the chapter and we find, 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Continuing on, the good news is that 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
One God. One Way – Jesus. There is only one standard. His. Pure and simple and undefiled by our double standards.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to walk in the Spirit, so that we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. Let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives so we may walk according to Your divine plan – in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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