Reading: Romans 1:29-31; Galatians 5:19-23

Devotional:

Paul's list in Romans 1:29-31 is not a random collection of bad behavior. It is the fruit of a heart that has turned away from God. Galatians 5 gives us a contrasting picture. The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit are both lists, but they point in opposite directions. One describes what human nature produces when it lives independently of God. The other describes what the Holy Spirit produces in a life surrendered to God. The difference is not willpower or moral effort. The difference is the source. A heart connected to God through Christ, yielded to the Spirit, begins to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A heart turned away from God produces the fruit Paul describes in Romans 1. The application for every believer is this: examine the fruit. What is your life producing? Not in your best moments, but consistently, in your relationships, your words, your attitudes, and your private thoughts. Fruit does not lie about the condition of the root.

Personal Reflection: Looking at the two lists honestly, which items from Paul's list in Romans 1 do you still find appearing in your own life, even as a believer?

Practical Application: Select one specific characteristic from Galatians 5:22-23 that you sense God calling you to cultivate more intentionally. Ask the Holy Spirit to develop that quality in you and look for one practical opportunity to express it today.